A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the suspended dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Cyril Ndifon, to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
Ndifon, a professor of law, was suspended from his deanship following widespread allegations of sexual impropriety against him by some female undergrads in the faculty.
Ndifon denied the allegation, claiming that some of his colleagues uncomfortable with his leadership style manipulated the students against him.
However, the university investigation panel found him guilty of sexual assault and he is currently being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The ICPC charge include a four-count charge against the professor in October.
The Nigerian professor was alleged to have, between June and September 2023, used his office and position to satisfy himself by soliciting nude images and videos from a second-year Diploma female student of the university through WhatsApp chats on his telephone number.
ICPC said the offence is punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
In a second count, he was alleged to have immorally requested nude pictures and from a 400 level female student of the Faculty of Law with the plan of changing her project supervisor to himself in order to guarantee favourable grades for her, contrary to and punishable under Section 8(1)(a) (il) of the agency’s Act.
He was alleged to have corruptly requested to see nude photographs of a 16-year-old prospective post-UTME female student, as an inducement to consider her for admission into the Faculty of Law contrary to and punishable under Section 18(d) of the Act.
Count four states that he caused a female student to send pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs of herself to him through WhatsApp between May and September 2023, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition & Prevention) Act, 2015.
Ndifon was alleged to have committed the offences while serving as a public officer charged with responsibility for the certification of students as fit in learning and character as a prerequisite for the award of a Bachelor’s degree in Law and admission into the Nigeria Law School.
The don pleaded not guilty to all the four-count charge read to him when he appeared before the court on Monday.
Justice Omotosho ordered that Ndifon be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter until January 10 for a hearing of the bail application.
