The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Cyril Ndifon, to five years in prison after finding him guilty of sexually harassing a female student.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice James Omotosho held that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) established counts one and two against Ndifon beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court imposed a two-year sentence for count one and a five-year sentence for count two, to run concurrently, with no option of fine.
The court, however, discharged and acquitted Ndifon’s former lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, of allegations that he attempted to obstruct justice by threatening a key witness.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the prosecution failed to link Anyanwu to the offences listed in counts three and four of the amended charge.
The four-count amended charge, dated January 19, 2024, accused Ndifon of sexually harassing female students while serving as Dean of Law.
According to the ICPC, he demanded indecent photographs from a diploma student identified as TKJ and repeatedly solicited sexual acts in exchange for her admission into the law programme.
Ndifon testified in his own defence, while a forensic analyst from the Office of the National Security Adviser, CSP Babagana Mingali, also appeared before the court.
In his judgment, Justice Omotosho concluded that the evidence showed Ndifon abused his office and exploited a student seeking admission.