Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), to five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.
The court found Ndifon guilty on three counts of sexual harassment and attempting to pervert justice by demanding nude photographs and sexual favours from female students in exchange for admission and better grades.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Ekwo held that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge described Ndifon’s conduct as “a betrayal of trust” and “an abuse of his exalted position as a lecturer and Dean.”Ndifon’s co-accused, Barr. Sunny Anyanwu, who was charged with aiding the offences, was discharged and acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence.
The convict has been ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, where he is to serve the five-year term concurrently.
The case, which sparked viral protest online in 2023, is widely seen as a landmark victory in the fight against sexual harassment in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Reacting to the verdict, counsel to the ICPC hailed the judgment as a deterrent to lecturers who abuse their offices.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
