UNICAL’s Suspended Dean Remanded Amidst Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

In a startling development, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has made a decisive ruling regarding the case involving Professor Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

The judge ordered Ndifon’s remand at the Kuje Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the finalization of his bail application. This pronouncement was communicated through a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mrs. Azuka Ogugua.

The ICPC had arraigned Ndifon on four counts of charges related to alleged sexual misconduct against some of his students. Despite the charges leveled against him, the professor pleaded not guilty during the court proceedings.

In a bid to secure bail for the defendant, Ndifon’s counsel, Okon Efut, had submitted a bail application on January 2, 2024. However, the ICPC’s counsel, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, vehemently opposed the bail application. The opposition was grounded in allegations that one of the defendant’s lawyers, Barrister Sunny Anyanwu, had purportedly threatened a key witness lined up by the ICPC for the trial.

Responding to these claims, Barrister Anyanwu refuted the allegation, asserting that the said witness wasn’t listed in the charges read. He further informed the court that it was the ‘witness’ who had initiated contact with him.

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Justice Omotosho, in light of the grave allegations, directed Barrister Anyanwu to submit an affidavit of fact within 48 hours to address the alleged threat posed by him toward an ICPC witness. Additionally, the judge ordered Ndifon’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre until Wednesday, January 10, 2024, when the court would conclude the hearing on his bail application.

This development marks a critical juncture in the legal proceedings against Professor Cyril Ndifon, whose case has garnered substantial attention owing to its sensitive nature involving allegations of misconduct within an academic institution. The unfolding events in this trial are anticipated to significantly impact the discourse surrounding academic integrity and ethical conduct within educational settings.