Court Jails Suspended UNICAL Law Professor Cyril Ndifon Five Years for Sexual Harassment

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday found the suspended University of Calabar, UNICAL, Law professor, Cyril Ndifon, guilty of sexual harassment and sentenced him to five years imprisonment without an option of fine.

Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho ruled that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, proved counts one and two against Ndifon, who was the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the time the offence was committed.

The court ruled that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Ndifon abused his position to put undue pressure on a prospective student, known as TKJ, into an immoral act. The judge observed that Ndifon took advantage of his position, as the diploma programme was under his purview; hence, his act was an abuse of office.

Justice Omotosho also made an observation that Ndifon was not a believable witness, and his testimony lacked veracity.

“Consequently, the 1st defendant is hereby convicted of count one and count two,” he declared.

Taking into account the fact that Ndifon was a first-time offender, the judge considered his plea for leniency. He imposed a two-year sentence for count one and five years for count two, to run concurrently. However, the court discharged and acquitted the second defendant, Sunny Anyanwu, who had earlier been a lawyer to Ndifon.