A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted Cyril Ndifon, a suspended Law Professor and former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), of sexual harassment, sentencing him to five years in prison without an option of fine.
Justice James Omotosho ruled that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Ndifon used his position to pressure a female diploma student, identified as TKJ, into performing sexual acts in exchange for admission into the university.
The judge described Ndifon as “not a witness of truth” and condemned his actions as a gross abuse of office, noting that his conduct was “a disgrace to the community and should serve as a deterrent to others in public office. The sentences for counts one and two are to run concurrently.
Ndifon’s co-defendant, Sunny Anyanwu, who had previously served as one of Ndifon’s lawyers and was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, was acquitted on all counts, as the prosecution failed to establish a link between him and the alleged offences.
The ICPC had alleged that Ndifon repeatedly requested indecent photographs from TKJ and solicited sexual favours under the pretext of admission, exploiting his authority as Dean. Justice Omotosho condemned the professor’s conduct as predatory and immoral.
This conviction comes after a year-and-a-half-long trial, highlighting the ICPC’s commitment to holding public officials accountable for abusing their positions of power.
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