UNICAL Scandal Unfolds: ICPC Charges Suspended Professor with Sexual Harassment

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has formally filed criminal charges against Professor Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

This legal action follows the ICPC’s thorough investigation into allegations of serious misconduct, with a particular focus on reported instances of sexual harassment involving female law students at the faculty.

In August, a group of female law students organised a protest, accusing Ndifon of sexual harassment.

Consequently, the university administration suspended Ndifon and established a panel to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into these allegations.

On October 4, 2023, in cooperation with the Department of State Services (DSS), the ICPC arrested Ndifon in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, due to his failure to respond to several invitations.

On Monday, the anti-corruption commission officially pressed four charges against the embattled senior lecturer.

These charges are outlined in the document labeled FHC/ABJ/CR/511/2023, and they pertain to allegations of sexual harassment, official corruption, and abuse of office. These accusations are in violation of sections 8, 18, and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, of 2000.

One of the specific counts from the charge sheet states: “That you, Professor CYRIL OSIM NDIFON (m), between June-September, 2023, in Calabar, within the jurisdiction of this honorable Court, while serving as a public officer responsible for certifying students’ fitness in learning and character as prerequisites for the award of a Bachelor’s degree in law and admission into the Nigeria Law School, misused your position as the Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, by soliciting nude photographs and videos from a student identified as Ms. ABC (not her real name), a second-year diploma student at the University of Calabar, via WhatsApp chats on your phone number 0803***. This act constitutes an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

Currently, the court has not scheduled a date for the arraignment.