The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has initiated a legal action against Professor Cyril Ndifon, who was suspended from his role as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar. This comes after the ICPC concluded its investigation into allegations of serious misconduct by the professor against some of his students.
In the formal charge document, identified as FHC/ABJ/CR/511/2023, the ICPC is presenting four counts against the senior lecturer. These charges revolve around accusations of sexual harassment, official corruption, and abuse of office, which are in violation of Sections 8, 18, and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000.
The commission’s spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, disclosed this information in a statement released on Monday.
One of the counts in the charge states, “That you, Professor CYRIL OSIM NDIFON (m) between June and September 2023 at Calabar, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, and while being a public officer responsible for certifying students as suitable in learning and character for the award of a bachelor’s degree in law and admission into the Nigeria Law School, used your position as the Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, to solicit nude photographs and videos from a female student, Ms. ABC (not real name), who was a second-year diploma student at the University of Calabar, through WhatsApp chats on your phone number 0803*****. This action constitutes an offense under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000.”
Ndifon is scheduled to appear in court on a date determined by the court.
The ICPC, in collaboration with the Department of State Services, arrested Ndifon in Calabar, Cross River State, on October 4, 2023, after the lecturer declined multiple invitations to cooperate with the authorities.
