The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday handed down a five-year jail sentence to Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Law at University of Calabar (UNICAL), with no option of fine. Justice James Omotosho ruled that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had proven beyond reasonable doubt Ndifon’s guilt on two counts of sexual harassment.
The court ordered Ndifon to serve two years on the first count and five years on the second count concurrently. Meanwhile, Sunny Anyanwu, once part of Ndifon’s legal team, was acquitted after the judge found insufficient evidence linking him to the charges.
Ndifon faced allegations of pressuring a female diploma student, identified as TKJ, to send him “pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs” via WhatsApp and to perform sexual favors—like giving him “a blow job”—in exchange for admission into the law program. The court heard Ndifon abused his position as Dean to exploit multiple female students.
Justice Omotosho described Ndifon as “not a witness of truth” and condemned his actions as disgraceful and predatory. He stressed the need for this verdict to deter public officials from abusing power over women.
Though Anyanwu called the key witness on the phone, the judge noted this happened months before the investigation and cleared him of charges, while still criticizing his unprofessional conduct.
Ndifon’s defense included testimony from himself and a forensic analyst, but the judge found the evidence convincing enough to convict. While hearing the case, the court rejected the defendants’ no-case submission.
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