UniCal Law Professor Sentenced to 5 Years in Landmark Sexual Harassment Case
ABUJA – In a landmark ruling that signals a significant shift in addressing sexual misconduct within Nigerian academia, the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Professor Cyril Ndifon, former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar, to five years imprisonment for sexually harassing female students.
A Judicial Condemnation of Academic Abuse
Presiding Judge Justice James Omotosho delivered the verdict on Monday, convicting Ndifon on two counts of sexual harassment while acquitting him on two additional charges of attempting to pervert justice. The case was prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Justice Omotosho did not mince words in his condemnation, stating that Ndifon had “brought shame upon the Faculty of Law of the University of Calabar, the University itself, the legal profession and his family.” The judge characterized the professor as “a sexual predator” who “instilled fear in the minds of the students in the faculty.”
The Case That Shook Nigerian Academia
The ICPC had accused Professor Ndifon of soliciting nude pictures and videos from his female students, leveraging his position of authority as dean to exploit vulnerable young women. According to court documents, Ndifon repeatedly demanded explicit material from students with promises of academic favors.
Despite Ndifon’s defense and no-case submission, which the court dismissed, forensic evidence presented by CSP Babagana Mingali of the Office of the National Security Adviser helped establish the professor’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Broader Implications for Nigerian Higher Education
This case represents one of the most high-profile convictions for sexual harassment in Nigeria’s education sector, coming amid growing national awareness of sexual exploitation in academic institutions. The ruling sends a clear message that abuse of power by educators will no longer be tolerated.
Justice Omotosho specifically addressed the systemic nature of the problem in his ruling: “I must not fail to comment on the rampant state of sexual harassment in our society, which our ladies are especially victims of in several establishments where the woman is subordinate to a man; they are usually targets of sexual harassment from randy men.”
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
The court sentenced Ndifon to two years imprisonment on count one and five years on count two, with both sentences to run concurrently. His co-defendant and lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, was discharged and acquitted of all charges.
The judge noted that Ndifon showed no remorse during the proceedings and instead attempted to “blame some other irrelevant reason for his arraignment.” This lack of contrition likely influenced the court’s decision to impose a substantial prison term.
This report is based on information from the Daily Nigerian as its primary source.