Prof Ndifon To Face Trial At Calabar Federal High Court, As ICPC Slams 14 Count Charge Against Suspended UNICAL Lecturer

By Our Reporter

The suspended University of Calabar dean of law faculty, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, is to face trial at Calabar Federal High Court as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has slammed him a 14-count charge  after investigations.

Recall that on the wee hours of Thursday,  October 5,2023 security operatives from DSS stormed Prof  Ndifon premises at Akpabuyo, at the outskirts of Calabar metropolis, and whisked Ndifon away  to Abuja.

ALSO READ: BREAKING! Suspended Law Faculty Dean, Prof. Ndifon, kidnapped by gunmen in Akpabuyo

According to DSS, the they carried out the cover operations in collaboration with a sister agency, ICPC, after Ndifon failed to respond to several invitations for questioning over some criminal allegations against him.

The erudite Professor of law, has been having a running battle with the management of UNICAL over alleged misconduct.

ALSO READ: UNICAL Suspends Dean Of Law Over Violation Of Extant Laws

Speaking on the matter via a statement in Abuja, the ICPC’s Spokesperson, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, said the commission had filed a criminal charge against Ndifon having concluded investigation into the professor’s alleged gross misconduct against some of his students.

The commission said a four-count charge bordering on sexual harassment, official corruption, and abuse of office contrary to Sections 8, 18 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, had been preferred against the senior lecturer and would be brought to Court on a day yet to be announced.

In the charge marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/511/2023, one of the counts reads: “that you, Professor CYRIL OSIM NDIFON (m) between June-September, 2023 at Calabar, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court.

“And, while being a public officer charged with responsibility for the certification of students as fit in learning and character as a prerequisite for the award of Bachelor’s degree in law and admission into the Nigeria Law School.

“Used your office and position as the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Calabar to gratify yourself.

“By soliciting for nude photographs and videos from one Ms. ABC (not real name), a year 2 diploma student of the University of Calabar, through WhatsApp chats on your telephone number 0803***.

“And, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

But reacting to the development, the Concerned  Ikom Group, said they are watching with keen interest on the trails of one of their illustrious sons and would make public statements later.

The group spokesperson, Agbor Agbor, said  nobody is supporting crime and all sorts of  alleged gross misconduct while holding public office, but enjoined the ICPC to ensure that justice is done and seen to have been done in the case so that all parties would have been satisfied.