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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday sentenced the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Cyril Ndifon, to five years in prison without an option of fine for sexual harassment.
The ruling stated that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), represented by Justice James Omotosho, successfully proved the evidence in counts one and two beyond a reasonable doubt against the first defendant.
The judge imposed a two-year prison term for count one and a five-year sentence for count two, which will run concurrently.
Justice Omotosho, however, discharged and acquitted Sunny Anyanwu, who was previously part of Ndifon’s legal team, of all charges against him.
The judge determined that the anti-corruption commission failed to connect the offenses in counts three and four, which included Anyanwu's name, to the co-defendant.
According to DAILY POST, the ICPC had, in the amended charge dated January 19, 2024, filed four counts against Ndifon (the first defendant) and his lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu (the second defendant).
The suspended professor was initially the sole defendant in the sexual harassment case, but Anyanwu was later added as the second defendant in the amended charge.
This development follows allegations that Anyanwu attempted to obstruct justice by contacting the star witness on her mobile phone during the ongoing case against Ndifon to threaten her.
The amended charges in counts one and two accused the professor of sexually harassing several female students at the university.
As per the Commission, while serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at UNICAL, Ndifon requested a female Diploma student, identified as TKJ and the star witness, to send him "pornographic, indecent, and obscene photographs of herself" via WhatsApp.
He was further accused of repeatedly asking TKJ to perform oral sex on him in exchange for admission into the university to study law.
In his defense, Ndifon testified as the first defense witness (DW-1), while CSP Babagana Mingali, a Forensic Analyst at the laboratory of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), provided his testimony as DW-2.
In delivering the judgment, the judge stated that the commission had successfully demonstrated the elements of the offenses in counts one and two.
He noted that Ndifon failed to refute the evidence that he unduly pressured TKJ into engaging in the immoral act.
He remarked: “The victim was eager to gain admission to the university, and the first defendant had the leverage to assist her, being the dean and overseeing the diploma course.
“The instances of undue advantage are numerous. The first defendant abused his position.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the charges against Prof. Cyril Ndifon?
Prof. Cyril Ndifon faced charges of sexual harassment against female students while serving as Dean of the Faculty of Law at UNICAL.
What was the outcome of the trial?
The Federal High Court sentenced Ndifon to five years in prison without an option of fine, while Sunny Anyanwu was acquitted of the charges against him.
Who testified during the trial?
Ndifon testified as the first defense witness, and CSP Babagana Mingali, a Forensic Analyst, provided testimony as the second defense witness.
