By Joy Mfon, Contributing Editor, Lagos Metropolitan.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in 2024, filed a criminal charge against Professor Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), following the Commission’s conclusion of investigation into the Professor’s alleged gross misconducts against some of his students.
ICPC charged Prof Ndifon to court for sexual harassment and gratification against a 22-year old female student. The court ordered that the press not reveal the name of the girl for the sake of her protection, rather she was simply identified as TKJ.
Ndifon’s lawyer, Barr Sunny Anyanwu, was also included in the lawsuit, as ICPC established the fact that he’d threatened TKJ and warned her against responding to ICPC when they contacted her.
The ICPC had accused Ndifon of soliciting explicit and indecent photographs from female students while serving as UNICAL’s Law Dean.
In particular, the commission highlighted a case where Ndifon allegedly demanded pornographic images from TKJ. The student was among four witnesses who testified against him in court.
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 sexual conduct towards his students, marking a significant judgment in the fight against sexual harassment in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Justice Omotosho sentenced Prof. Ndifon to two years in prison for one count, and five years on the second count, with the court ordering that the sentences run concurrently. The court also cleared Ndifon’s co-defendant, lawyer Sunny Anyanwu, of allegations of attempting to obstruct justice.
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.
