By Correspondent in Abuja.
(C) Google.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday convicted and sentenced Prof. Cyril Ndifon, suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), to five years’ imprisonment without an option of a fine for sexually harassing female students.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment, holding that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) proved counts one and two against Ndifon beyond reasonable doubt.
Our Correspondent report that the professor was sentenced to two years on count one and five years on count two, to run concurrently.
The court, however, discharged and acquitted Ndifon’s co-defendant, Sunny Anyanwu, a member of his legal team, on all charges for lack of sufficient evidence linking him to the alleged offences.
In an amended charge dated Jan. 19, 2024, the ICPC had arraigned Ndifon and Anyanwu on a four-count charge involving sexual harassment and attempts to pervert the course of justice.
Ndifon was initially charged alone, but Anyanwu was later added following allegations that, while representing Ndifon, he called a star witness, identified as TKJ, threatening her not to cooperate with investigators.
According to the ICPC, Ndifon, while serving as Dean, demanded obscene photographs and sexual favours from female students, including a Diploma student and key witness, identified as TKJ, in exchange for admission into the Law programme.
The commission alleged that Ndifon pressured TKJ to send “pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs” via WhatsApp and demanded oral sex (“a blow job”) as a condition for her admission.
The prosecution closed its case on Feb. 14, 2024, but the defendants entered a no-case submission, which was dismissed by Justice Omotosho on March 6, 2024.
In his defence, Ndifon testified as DW-1, while CSP Babagana Mingali, a forensic analyst from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), appeared as DW-2.
In his judgment, Justice Omotosho said the court found Ndifon’s conduct disgraceful and unbecoming of an academic and public officer.
“The instances of undue advantage are so much. The 1st defendant abused his office. He is not a witness of truth and cannot be believed by any reasonable court,” the judge declared.
He described Ndifon as a “sexual predator” and a disgrace to the legal and academic community, stressing that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others in positions of authority who prey on vulnerable women.
Although Anyanwu admitted to calling TKJ, the court ruled that the phone call took place months before the ICPC investigation began, making it insufficient to prove intent to obstruct justice.
While acquitting Anyanwu of all charges, Justice Omotosho still condemned his “unprofessional conduct” for contacting a potential witness.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
