Sexual Harassment: Court Remands Suspended UNICAL Prof In Prison
The embattled suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar, Cyril Ndifon, was on Wednesday granted a bail of N250m, by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice James Omotosho granted him bail on self-recognisance and released him to his counsel, Okon Efut, (SAN), to enable him to go for eye surgery.
The judge released Ndifon to Efut who told the court that he was ready to take responsibility to produce him in court for his trial.
The defendant is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on four counts of sexual harassment.
He was remanded by the court on Monday after he took his plea and the case was adjourned till Wednesday for the hearing of the bail application.
Ndifon, a public official responsible for certifying students as fit in learning and character as a prerequisite for the award of a Bachelor’s degree in Law and admission into the Nigerian Law School, is facing four counts filed against him by the ICPC.
The ICPC alleged that on October 30, 2023, Ndifon used his office to solicit nude photographs and videos from female students.
It also said that the defendant allegedly corruptly changed a student’s project supervisor for favourable grades, and requested pictures of a prospective student as an inducement for admission.
The ICPC’s counsel, Ebenezer Shogunle, had filed the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/511/23 on October 30, 2023, against Ndifon.
At the resumed hearing of the bail application on Wednesday, Justice Omotosho admitted him to a bail of N250m, with one surety in like sum.
He ordered that the surety must show evidence of means and should submit his passport to the court registrar.
But the judge, who said the bail application was not ripe for hearing, also ordered that the perfection of the bail would take effect from January 10 to January 25, 2024.
Both Ndifon and his legal representative were also ordered to submit their travel documents to the court. The judge also directed the ICPC to ensure it brings its witness to court.
Consequently, Justice Omotosho adjourned the case till January 26, for the commencement of trial.
The defendant was alleged to have, between June and September 2023, used his office and position to gratify himself by soliciting nude photographs and videos from a year two diploma female student of the university through Whatsapp chats on his telephone number: 08037066222.
He was also said to have corruptly 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 himself to guarantee favourable grades for her.
Ndifon was alleged to have corruptly 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.
The ICPC accused him of causing a female student to send pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs of herself to him through WhatsApp chats on his telephone number: 08037066222 between May and September 2023.
According to the ICPC, the offences committed contravened Sections 19, Act 2000, 8(1)(a) (il), 18(d) and 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition & Prevention) Act, of the agency 2015.
Culled from Punch
