Sexual Harassment: Suspended UNICAL don remanded in Kuje prison on court order

A federal high court in Abuja has ordered that Cyril Ndifon, the suspended dean of the faculty of law at the University of Calabar be remanded in Kuje prison.

Ndifon, a professor, was suspended in August for allegedly sexually harassing some female students.

And following protests by the students, an investigative panel was set up to probe the claim leveled against him.

The panel found the professor who has since been replaced, guilty of sexual harassment and abuse of office.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission- ICPC then filed criminal charges against the suspended dean in October last year.

At the court session on Monday, Ndifon pleaded not guilty to the four-count charges preferred against him.

In count 1,  he was accused of soliciting nude photographs and videos from a year two female diploma student through WhatsApp.

In count 2, he was alleged to have also requested nude photographs and videos from a 400-level female student of the Faculty of Law with the plan of changing her project supervisor to guarantee favorable grades for her.

In count 3, he was alleged to have requested to see photographs of a 16-year-old prospective post-UTME female student, as an inducement to consider her for admission into the faculty of law.

Count 4, accused him of causing a female student to send pornographic, indecent, and obscene photographs of herself to him through WhatsApp.

Okon Efut, Ndifon’s counsel, moved a bail application dated January 2 and filed on January 3, praying the court to grant his client bail on health grounds.

Speaking from the dock, Ndifon said: “My lord, I was supposed to have eye surgery on glaucoma”

Efut told the court that it was based on his health condition that the magistrate court in Calabar admitted him to bail on October 27, 2023, after being in detention for about 22 days.

He said based on the medical report, the surgery was expected to be carried out on January 11.

However, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, ICPC lawyer, opposed the bail application.

The lawyer also alleged that one of the counsels to Ndifon threatened the commission’s star witness on the phone.

James Omotosho, the presiding judge, then asked the lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, to come forward.

When asked to respond to the allegation, Anyanwu admitted to calling Tochi Kanu, the witness.

The judge then directed Anyanwu to file his affidavit of facts for the court to decide on the issue.

Omotosho also said he wondered why Ndifon had not gone for the surgery since October when the magistrate court granted him bail.

The judge ordered Ndifon to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre until January 10 when the bail application will be heard.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)

Otu swears-in three new High Court judges, charges them to restore trust in judiciary

The Cross River State Governor Senator Bassey Otu has sworn in three new High Court Judges in the State namely Hon. Justice Ama Edet Ekpo, Hon. Justice Theresa Ansa Agom, and Hon. Justice Jarlath Ogar Agim.

At the swearing-in held at Dan Archibong Lodge, on Monday, January 8, 2024, he charged the Judges to discharge their constitutional duties with sincerity.

Otu averred that the principle of separation of powers between the three arms of government is purely for checks and balances and not for opposition and friction.

“Meanwhile, as they are sworn in today as members of the full bench at a time when the judiciary nationwide is under unbridled public criticism; a lot of judicial expertise is expected from them.

“While the debate on the veracity or otherwise of the public claims rages on, the undisputed fact remains that the judiciary needs to re-invent itself through self-cleansing procedure. The National Judicial Council of Nigeria, NJCN, should not relent in banging the gavel on erring judicial officers.”

He said the image and perception of the nation’s judiciary have been dented, hence, the need for the trio to work assiduously to rejuvenate the trust of the masses.

“The three judges sworn in today must therefore live above board to rekindle the faith and trust of the common man in the judiciary.

“The current symbiotic relationship between the Executive, Legislature, and the Judiciary in the State is therefore worthy of commendation; as it has facilitated the seamless movement of the machinery of government. The resultant effect is the accelerated growth and development of the State. May I therefore sue for more of this cooperation for the good of the State.”

Otu acknowledged hardwork for the three elevated judges for their hard work which necessitated their elevation.

“The three judges so elevated today are carefully chosen among the legal luminaries in the State Judiciary. They are therefore found to be an embodiment of hard work, sincerity, integrity and with a firm knowledge and understanding of the law.”

He prayed the Judiciary to assist society in decongesting the correctional centers through the effective use of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) option.

The State Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme, in her remark, advised the newly elevated judges to discharge their duties with the fear of God and in accordance with the rule of law.

“You are coming into an arena that requires integrity, impartiality, and efficiency. I charge you to give judgment with fairness and according to the Rule of Law.

“As you take your oath this afternoon, don’t just recite it as anything, listen to the wordings of the oath and keep to it.”

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)