The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday sentenced the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, to five years’ imprisonment for sexual harassment. The sentence comes without an option of fine.
Justice James Omotosho ruled that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) successfully proved counts one and two against Ndifon beyond reasonable doubt. The court handed him a two-year sentence on count one and a five-year term on count two, to run concurrently.
The judge, however, discharged and acquitted Sunny Anyanwu, a member of Ndifon’s former legal team, stating that the ICPC failed to link him to the offenses in counts three and four.
The ICPC had amended its charge on January 19, 2024, adding Anyanwu as a second defendant. Anyanwu was accused of attempting to influence the case by calling the star witness during the trial to threaten her, but the court ruled the evidence insufficient.
Counts one and two focused on allegations that Ndifon sexually harassed female students while serving as Dean. The commission said he pressured a female diploma student, identified as TKJ, to send him pornographic and indecent images via WhatsApp. He was also accused of repeatedly asking her for sexual acts, including a request for a “blow job,” in exchange for helping her gain admission into the law program.
Ndifon testified in his own defense, while a forensic analyst from the Office of the National Security Adviser also appeared as a witness. But the court found that the professor abused his position and took advantage of a vulnerable student seeking admission.
Justice Omotosho said the evidence clearly showed that Ndifon exerted undue pressure on the student, adding:
“The victim was desirous of being admitted into the university and the 1st defendant was in a position of advantage as the dean. The instances of undue advantage are so much. The 1st defendant abused his office.”
