Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar, Professor Cyril Ndifon, to five years in prison with no option of fine.
The ruling, delivered on Monday, found that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) proved its case in counts one and two beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Omotosho handed Ndifon a two-year sentence on count one and five years on count two, with both terms to run concurrently. The court, however, discharged and acquitted Sunny Anyanwu, a former member of Ndifon’s defence team, ruling that the prosecution failed to connect him to the offences listed in counts three and four.
The judge stated that the commission had successfully established the elements of the offences in counts one and two. He noted that Ndifon could not counter evidence showing that he unduly pressured TKJ into performing the immoral act he sought from her. According to the court, Ndifon exploited his position and the student’s desire for admission, adding, “The instances of undue advantage are so much. The 1st defendant abused his office.”
Justice Omotosho described Ndifon as “not a witness of truth,” saying no reasonable court could rely on his testimony. He added that although Ndifon was a first-time offender, the court considered mercy as requested by his lawyer, Oladimeji Ekengba.
On count three, the judge observed that although Anyanwu had contacted TKJ, the call was made months before the investigation began, making it impossible to assume his intentions. He was subsequently discharged and acquitted on counts three and four. Still, the court condemned his unprofessional conduct in calling a potential witness in his client’s case.
Justice Omotosho sharply criticised Ndifon’s behaviour, stating it was disturbing that a Dean of Law “can turn himself to a sexual predator.” He called the professor’s conduct disgraceful to the legal community, stressing that his punishment should discourage others who misuse authority to exploit female students.
The amended charge, filed on January 19, 2024, listed four counts against Ndifon and Anyanwu. Ndifon was accused of sexually harassing female students, including requesting “pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs of herself” from TKJ via WhatsApp, and asking her on multiple occasions to give him “a blow job” in exchange for admission into the university.
Anyanwu was later added to the charge over allegations that he attempted to obstruct justice by calling the star witness to discourage her from cooperating with investigators. The ICPC closed its case on February 14, 2024, after presenting several witnesses, including a forensic analyst.
Although both defendants filed no-case submissions arguing insufficient evidence, the court dismissed the applications in March 2024. Ndifon testified in his own defence, alongside a forensic analyst from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
What you should know
Professor Cyril Ndifon, once a senior academic and dean at UNICAL, has faced longstanding allegations of abusing his authority to demand sexual favours from female students.
His conviction reinforces rising calls to address sexual misconduct in Nigerian tertiary institutions and highlights the judiciary’s growing willingness to hold powerful academics accountable.
