In August 2023, the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar students rallied outside the office of the Vice Chancellor to call out their Dean, Prof. Cyril Osim Ndifon on sexual misconduct amongst other acts of misconduct.
This protest took the school by storm and also social media with videos of the students carrying placards bearing rebuttals against the lewd acts the Dean had allegedly requested from students trending. This act shown by the female students openly calling out a man in a position of power was seen to be brave but underneath that bravery were accounts of victims who were tired of his abuse of power and misconduct.
We were able to interview some of these victims who remained anonymous and gave accounts of how he forces students to do his bidding or he threatens them with their law school position. These harrowing reports from the students led to the Dean’s suspension and the charges were filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) which included soliciting nude photos and videos from students and using his position for personal gain. However, he pleads not guilty to the four-count charge.
In January 2024 due to the damning evidence against him, the suspended Dean was remanded in Kuje prison by the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, FCT.
During his ongoing trial on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, told Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on that he did not send or request explicit photographs from anyone in the sexual harassment case filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Ndifon, together with his lawyer, Samuel Anyanwu, is on trial for four charges of alleged sexual harassment, cybercrime, and attempt to corrupt the course of justice.
In his claim, Professor Ndifon stated in court that ICPC officers questioned him about a previous rape case without alerting him about the star witness, TKJ until he was charged. He acknowledged knowing TKJ through her uncle in the United Kingdom, who sought his assistance in recovering funds spent for TKJ’s enrollment. Ndifon declined. He added that TKJ later contacted him and recommended that she study hard for straight admittance.
He denied sending or soliciting nude images, claiming that the phone with the claimed evidence was not his primary device. He further claimed that the photos produced in court were altered and did not adequately portray his conversations with TKJ.
In essence, Professor Ndifon denies the rape allegations and argues that the evidence produced against him is false or distorted.
Professor Ndifon’s defence highlights a critical concern: the lack of justice and accountability in cases of sexual misconduct, particularly when they involve figures of authority like professors and their students. Power imbalances within academic settings often create environments where victims may fear repercussions or lack the support to come forward. In this case, a thorough and impartial investigation is crucial to ensure justice is served and to protect female victims who might find it difficult to come forward to name and shame their abusers in various institutions.
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