The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has officially lodged criminal charges against Professor Cyril Ndifon, who was suspended from his position as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL). This legal action follows the ICPC’s thorough investigation into allegations of severe misconduct against some of his students.
According to charge sheet number FHC/ABJ/CR/511/2023, the ICPC is bringing a four-count charge against the Senior Lecturer. These charges revolve around sexual harassment, official corruption, and abuse of office, contravening sections 8, 18, and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
One of the counts reads as follows: “Between June and September 2023, in Calabar, within this honorable Court’s jurisdiction, while holding a public office responsible for certifying students’ fitness in learning and character as prerequisites for the award of a Bachelor’s degree in law and admission to the Nigeria Law School, Professor CYRIL OSIM NDIFON (m) used his position as the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, to solicit nude photographs and videos from a year 2 diploma student, identified as Ms. ABC (pseudonym), through WhatsApp chats on his telephone number 0803***. This act constitutes an offense as per Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Professor Ndifon will be arraigned in court at a date determined by the court.
It’s worth noting that ICPC, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), arrested Professor Ndifon on October 4, 2023, in Calabar, Cross River State, after he repeatedly ignored several summons for questioning.
