Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), Professor Cyril Ndifon, to five years imprisonment, without an option of fine, after finding him guilty in a case involving sexual misconduct and abuse of office.
Delivering judgment, the court ruled that Prof. Ndifon must serve the full jail term, stating:
“The Federal High Court in Abuja today sentenced Prof. Cyril Ndifon, suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), to five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.”
The sentencing comes after a chain of events that began in August 2023, when a group of female law students at UNICAL staged a public demonstration accusing the professor of sexual harassment. Videos from the protest, which circulated widely online, showed students carrying placards alleging inappropriate and exploitative behavior by the suspended dean.
Following the protest, the university management suspended Prof. Ndifon, setting up an investigative panel that reportedly found him culpable for abuse of office and misconduct.
The matter drew the attention of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which opened a formal investigation into the allegations. After he allegedly failed to respond to multiple invitations, ICPC operatives, with support from the Department of State Services (DSS), arrested him in Calabar on October 4, 2023.
The professor was later arraigned on a four-count charge, including sexual harassment, official corruption, and abuse of office. Part of the charges alleged that he used his office between June and September 2023 to solicit nude photos and videos from a female diploma student through WhatsApp.
The court ordered his remand at Kuje Correctional Centre, where he remained until he was granted ₦250 million bail in February 2024 under strict conditions, including the submission of his passport and non-interference with witnesses.
During the course of the trial, ICPC amended the charges to include Barrister Sunny Anyanwu, identified as one of Ndifon’s lawyers, on allegations of attempting to influence a prosecution witness. The defence team filed a no-case submission, but the court dismissed it, holding that there was sufficient evidence to proceed.
At trial, electronic forensic examinations were reportedly presented in court, allegedly showing nude images involving students. The presiding judge, Justice Omotosho, condemned the professor’s conduct, describing him as “a disgrace to the community of learned persons”, emphasising that the verdict should serve as a deterrent to abuse of power within academic institutions.
The ruling has been widely interpreted as a strong message on accountability, especially in cases involving sexual misconduct, power imbalance, and institutional abuse within Nigeria’s education system.
The conviction marks an important moment in national efforts to confront sexual exploitation on campuses, a concern that has gained increasing public attention in recent years.
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