The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), sentencing him to five years in prison for sexually harassing his female students.
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In a ruling delivered on Monday by Justice James Omotosho, Ndifon was found guilty on two of the four counts brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The charges stemmed from allegations of sexual harassment, cybercrime, and related offenses committed during his tenure as dean.
The court imposed a two-year sentence on one count and a five-year term on the other, with both to run concurrently, resulting in an effective five-year imprisonment. Justice Omotosho emphasized that the prosecution’s evidence clearly established Ndifon’s culpability in demanding explicit materials from students.
However, Ndifon’s co-defendant and lawyer, Mr. Sunny Anyanwu, was discharged and acquitted. The judge ruled that the evidence presented did not sufficiently link Anyanwu to any wrongdoing, particularly the count of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The ICPC accused Ndifon of exploiting his position to harass female students, including demanding “pornographic, indecent, and obscene photographs” from them via WhatsApp. A key complainant, identified pseudonymously as “TJK” a female diploma student testified that Ndifon pressured her for such images. She was one of four prosecution witnesses who provided detailed accounts during the trial.
The case highlighted systemic concerns in academic environments, with the charges encompassing not only harassment but also cyber-related offenses tied to digital demands.
Trial Timeline
- February 14, 2024: ICPC closed its case after presenting four witnesses.
- March 6, 2024: The court dismissed Ndifon’s no-case submission, ordering him to enter a defense.
- Defense Phase: Ndifon took the stand as his own witness (DW-1), denying all allegations and arguing that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case. He claimed the witnesses’ testimonies, including the victim’s, lacked credibility and were insufficient for conviction. A second defense witness, CSP Babagana Mingali – a forensic analyst from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) – also testified.
Despite the defense’s arguments, Justice Omotosho upheld the two counts, describing the evidence as compelling and reliable.
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