Year: 2025

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday sentenced Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), 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 counts one and two against Ndifon beyond reasonable doubt. He sentenced the professor to two years for count one and five years for count two, to run concurrently. Sunny Anyanwu, Ndifon’s former lawyer, was acquitted of all charges. The court found that the ICPC failed to establish his involvement in counts three and four, which related to alleged attempts to obstruct justice. Anyanwu had been accused of calling a key witness, TKJ, to discourage her from cooperating with the ICPC. The case stemmed from allegations that Ndifon sexually harassed female students while serving as Dean. In the amended charges, the ICPC said Ndifon pressured TKJ to send indecent images via WhatsApp and demanded sexual favours in exchange for admission into the law programme. He was also accused of exploiting his position to harass multiple female students. During proceedings, the court dismissed the defendants’ no-case submission. Ndifon testified in his own defence, accompanied by a forensic analyst from the Office of the National Security Adviser. In delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho noted that Ndifon abused his office and exerted undue pressure on the student. He described Ndifon as “not a witness of truth” and called his conduct as a Dean “disgraceful” and “predatory.” While Anyanwu was cleared of criminal liability, the judge criticized his conduct as unprofessional, emphasizing that the call to the witness occurred before the formal investigation. The court said the ruling should serve as a warning to public officers who exploit their positions to take advantage of women.