Crime & Court
Court jails suspended UNICAL Law Dean, Ndifon, five years for sexual harassment
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday convicted and sentenced the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, to five years’ imprisonment for sexually harassing a female student.
The judge held that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had proved counts one and two of the amended charge against Ndifon beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Omotosho consequently handed the don a two-year jail term on count one and five years on count two, to run concurrently, without an option of fine.
He, however, discharged and acquitted Ndifon’s former lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, of counts three and four, ruling that the ICPC failed to link the offences to him.
The judge held that the commission had successfully established the ingredients of the offences in the first two counts, noting that Ndifon could not disprove the allegation that he exerted undue pressure on the female student, identified as TKJ, to perform immoral acts.
He said, “The victim was desirous of being admitted into the university, and the 1st defendant was at an advantage to help her, being the dean. The instances of undue advantage are so much. The 1st defendant abused his office.”
According to him, Ndifon was not a witness of truth and could not be believed by any reasonable court.
“Consequently, the 1st defendant is hereby convicted of count one and count two,” he ruled.
Justice Omotosho explained that although Anyanwu had contacted the star witness on phone, the call occurred about four months before the ICPC commenced investigation, making it impossible for the court to infer any intent to pervert justice at the time.
While absolving Anyanwu of wrongdoing on the charge, the judge condemned his conduct as unprofessional, describing the call to a potential witness in his client’s matter as improper.
Justice Omotosho also berated Ndifon for what he described as immoral and predatory behaviour.
He said, “It was with dismay I read through this case that a Dean of Law can turn himself into a sexual predator. His randy nature should be condemned by all. He is a disgrace to the community of learned persons.”
He added that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to public office holders who take undue advantage of female victims.
The ICPC, in the amended charge dated January 19, 2024, had accused Ndifon of demanding nude photographs from TKJ via WhatsApp and requesting oral sex from her in exchange for facilitating her admission into the Faculty of Law.
The suspended professor was also alleged to have sexually harassed other female students by using his position to secure undue advantage.
While count three was preferred solely against Anyanwu, both defendants were jointly charged in count four for allegedly attempting to influence the course of justice.
The commission closed its case on February 14 after its fourth witness, a forensic analyst, testified and was cross-examined by the defence.
However, the defence filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish the allegations. Justice Omotosho dismissed the application on March 6, ruling that both men had a case to answer.
Ndifon later testified in his defence, while CSP Babagana Mingali of the Office of the National Security Adviser appeared as the second defence witness.
The Ogun State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Sagamu has adjourned the trial of the driver involved in the road crash that affected former heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, to June 2, 2026.
The court, presided over by Magistrate Olufunilayo Somefun, fixed the new date to allow the prosecution to file fresh charges in the case.
The defendant, Adeniyi Mobolaji, is facing a four-count charge bordering on dangerous and negligent driving resulting in death.
It was gathered that the matter had been adjourned about four times to enable the prosecuting counsel, G. O. Ogunyomi, amend the charges before the court.
Mobolaji was accused of reckless and negligent driving, contrary to Section 6(1) of the relevant law, as well as driving without due care and attention, causing bodily harm, and damage to property under Section 7(1).
He was also alleged to have driven without a valid national driver’s licence, contrary to Section 10(1) of the Federal Highway Act.
Ruling on the prosecution’s application for adjournment, the magistrate granted the request and fixed June 2 for proper hearing. The defence counsel did not oppose the application.
Speaking after the proceedings, counsel to the defendant, Abiodun Olalekan, said the adjournment was necessary to ensure justice for all parties involved.
The 46-year-old defendant was involved in the fatal crash that claimed the lives of Joshua’s personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, along the Lagos-Ibadan
Expressway on December 29, 2025.
The Lexus SUV conveying the boxer collided with a stationary truck, leaving Joshua and the driver with minor injuries.
Joshua was later discharged from the hospital after being certified clinically stable.
The deaths of Ayodele and Ghami drew widespread reactions within the international boxing community, where both men were regarded as key figures in Joshua’s camp.
Their remains were subsequently repatriated to the United Kingdom, where a funeral prayer was held on January 4, 2026, at the London Central Mosque.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 58-year-old alleged drug lord, Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, who had reportedly been on the agency’s wanted list and that of British authorities for over 15 years.
Ilomuanya was apprehended in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, following what the agency described as a high-level, coordinated operation by officers of its Special Operations Unit.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Media and Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi said the suspect’s arrest ended a prolonged manhunt linked to his alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities across Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
According to the statement, Ilomuanya was first arrested in February 2003 in the United Kingdom and convicted for drug trafficking.
He was sentenced to nine years imprisonment but was released after serving two years following a successful appeal.
Babafemi added that the suspect was again arrested in the UK in July 2011 over drug-related offences.
He said, “He was granted administrative bail but jumped jurisdiction and fled to Nigeria.
“Typical of a recidivist, Ilomuanya was in November 2018 arrested in Nigeria by NDLEA operatives following the discovery of two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories in his Obinugwu, Orlu Local Government Area country home in Imo State and at his No. 3 Barrister Declan Uzoma Close, Lagos residence where officers recovered 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine and extensive production equipment.
“He was subsequently charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos, after which he jumped court bail and has been on the run since then.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the agency’s ongoing war against drug trafficking networks.
Marwa said the operation demonstrated the agency’s resolve to track down criminal elements regardless of how long they evade the law.
He said, “This arrest serves as a stern warning to those who think they can hide behind borders to escape justice.
“Whether you jump bail in London or set up clandestine labs in your village, the long arm of the NDLEA will eventually catch up with those who choose to undermine the health, security, and future of our nation.
“We remain committed to our international collaborations to ensure that Nigeria is not used as a sanctuary for global drug lords.”
Marwa also commended officers of the Special Operations Unit for their professionalism and persistence in tracking down the suspect.
He added that the agency would continue to strengthen intelligence-driven operations and international cooperation to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond Nigeria.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday discharged and acquitted a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, of a 23-count charge bordering on alleged non-declaration of assets filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations against the defendants.
Kyari was arraigned alongside his two brothers, who were accused of swearing to false affidavits in an alleged attempt to conceal the origin of certain properties.
However, the court ruled that the anti-drug agency failed to establish that the properties allegedly not declared by Kyari were actually owned by him.
Justice Omotosho explained that ownership of landed property could be established through traditional history, title documents, acts of possession, or possession by connection.
According to the judge, the prosecution did not present any of these forms of evidence to prove that the properties located at Fountain Estate in Karsana, said to belong to Ramatu Kyari, were owned by the suspended police officer.
The court also held that the prosecution failed to produce material evidence linking Kyari to properties located on Linda Choko Road in Asokoro, Abuja, as well as properties in Maiduguri, Borno State.
In his defence, Kyari maintained that the properties in Borno State belonged to his late father, who bequeathed them to him and his siblings.
The judge held that the prosecution failed to prove otherwise.
Justice Omotosho also faulted the prosecution for charging Kyari’s brothers with conspiracy, describing the allegation as unsubstantiated.
He described the NDLEA’s case as weak and lacking credible evidence, adding that the defendant had served the country well and should not be subjected to persecution.
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