UNICAL Law Professor Convicted for Sexual Harassment
The Federal High Court in Abuja has delivered a landmark judgment, sentencing suspended University of Calabar law professor Cyril Ndifon to five years imprisonment for sexual harassment of female students.
Justice James Omotosho handed down the ruling on Monday, November 17, finding the former Dean of the Faculty of Law guilty on two counts of sexual misconduct.
Court Details and Sentencing
Justice Omotosho declared that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had successfully proven counts one and two against Professor Ndifon beyond reasonable doubt.
The court sentenced Ndifon to two years imprisonment on count one and five years on count two, with both sentences to run concurrently. The judge emphasized that there would be no option of fine for the convicted professor.
During the proceedings, the court heard disturbing details of how Ndifon abused his position as dean to pressure female students into sexual acts. Evidence showed he demanded a female Diploma student, identified as TKJ, to send him pornographic photographs via WhatsApp and perform sexual acts in exchange for law school admission.
Co-Defendant Acquitted
In a separate ruling, Justice Omotosho discharged and acquitted Sunny Anyanwu, who had initially served as Ndifon's lawyer. The court found that the ICPC failed to establish any connection between Anyanwu and the offences outlined in counts three and four.
The judge noted that while Anyanwu had placed a call to the star witness TKJ, this occurred approximately four months before the investigation began. The court determined it could not speculate about Anyanwu's intentions at that time.
However, Justice Omotosho strongly criticized Anyanwu's professional conduct in contacting a potential witness while representing Ndifon in the case.
Judge's Strong Condemnation
Justice Omotosho did not mince words in his assessment of Ndifon's behavior, describing the law professor as a sexual predator who had brought disgrace to the academic community.
It was with dismay that I read through this case that a Dean of Law can turn himself into a sexual predator, the judge stated during the sentencing.
He emphasized that Ndifon had abused his office and taken undue advantage of students who were desperate to gain admission into the university. The judge noted that the diploma course fell under Ndifon's direct supervision, placing him in a position of power over the victims.
The court found Ndifon not to be a witness of truth during the proceedings and considered his status as a first-time offender when tempering justice with mercy in the sentencing.
Justice Omotosho stressed that the sentence should serve as a strong deterrent to other public officers who might consider exploiting their positions to prey on vulnerable women.
The case began with Ndifon as the sole defendant, but Anyanwu was later added to the charges after allegations emerged that he attempted to pervert justice by contacting witness TKJ during the pending case.
The ICPC closed its case against both defendants on February 14, 2024, after presenting four witnesses. Both defendants had filed no-case submissions arguing insufficient evidence, but Justice Omotosho dismissed these applications on March 6, 2024, ordering them to enter their defense.
This judgment represents a significant victory in the fight against sexual harassment in Nigerian educational institutions and sends a clear message about accountability for those in positions of authority.
