- The court convicted Prof. Cyril Ndifon for sexual harassment after finding strong evidence against him.
- Justice Omotosho sentenced the suspended UNICAL Law Dean to five years imprisonment.
- ICPC proved that Ndifon demanded explicit photos from female students, including one identified as “TJK.”
- Ndifon’s co-defendant, Sunny Anyanwu, was discharged for lack of credible evidence.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), to five years imprisonment for sexually harassing his female students.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Monday, holding that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) successfully established two of the four charges brought against the professor. The remaining two counts were dismissed for lack of sufficient proof.
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The court also cleared Ndifon’s co-defendant, lawyer Sunny Anyanwu, of allegations of attempting to obstruct justice. Justice Omotosho ruled that the prosecution failed to provide convincing evidence to sustain the accusations against him.
Ndifon received two separate sentences, two years on one count and five years on another. However, the judge ordered that both terms run concurrently, making the total jail time five years.
According to the ICPC, Ndifon exploited his position as Law Dean to request explicit photographs from female students, including a diploma student identified in court only as “TJK.” She was one of four witnesses who testified about his misconduct.
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The charges filed against the former dean and Anyanwu ranged from sexual harassment to cybercrime and alleged attempts to interfere with investigations. After the ICPC closed its case in February 2024, Ndifon filed a no-case submission, insisting the evidence was insufficient. The court rejected his application and ordered him to open his defence.
During the trial, Ndifon testified personally, and a forensic expert from the Office of the National Security Adviser also appeared on his behalf. Despite his denials, the court concluded that the ICPC had proved beyond reasonable doubt that he engaged in inappropriate behavior toward his students.
The ruling marks an important moment in the ongoing effort to address sexual misconduct within Nigerian higher institutions, reaffirming that abuse of authority carries serious consequences.
