iDeemlawfulJustice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court has handed a five-year prison sentence to the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Professor Cyril Ndifon.
The ruling followed the disturbing testimony of a diploma student, identified as TKJ (PW2), who recounted multiple episodes of sexual assault and coercion.
The judgement, delivered on Monday, arose from a case brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Ndifon had previously been suspended after female students staged a demonstration accusing him of serial harassment.
Below are verbatim portions from TKJ’s testimony, which the judge relied on extensively in the decision:
“He asked me to lock the door… He came close, held my wrist, tried to remove my trousers. I held his hand and begged him that I was on my period. He said it was a lie, put his hand inside my private part… Then he brought out his penis and told me to give him oral sex. I refused. I was crying. I knelt down and begged him, saying I would give him my virginity but not that day. He kept forcing his penis into my mouth. I crawled around the office on the floor while he followed me, trying to force it in.”
“He told me not to bother about admission if I could only take in the cap of his penis.”
“He came to my hostel in his car… While inside the car he brought out his penis again and asked me to give him a blow job. I begged him. He tried to put his hand in my trousers again. I told him I was on my period. He bent my head by force until the penis ended up in my mouth. Afterwards he apologised, told me to wipe my tears, and later sent me N3,000 to treat my neck.”
“He kept pressuring me to send a video of me putting two fingers in my private part. I told him I was a virgin and couldn’t do that, but he insisted. Out of fear of missing admission, I sent it… Later he asked for a full nude video from my chin down to my private part. I sent it in ‘view-once’ format. He claimed he mistakenly deleted it and asked me to resend.”
Prof. Ndifon was found guilty on Counts 1 and 2 (Cybercrime Act and ICPC Act offences) and received a five-year term without an option of fine. He was acquitted on Counts 3 and 4. His legal team has already signalled plans to appeal.
See official document below (swipe from slide 1-20 to view the full testimony below);
As anticipated, online discussions have surged after the court sentenced the Nigerian professor to five years for sexual harassment.
See reactions below:
blaaqbutterfly commented; “And if you see his wife ehhh, na queen o, toooo beautiful and also Educated a professor too. And a true woman of God, so god fearing I feel so bad for his family tbh.”
thaworldbanana shared; “It’s always the ones that look responsible and strict!!!”
bossqueen_barbiee wrote; “The funny thing is this men has kids and they never thought of another man doing same to their kids 😢😢😢.”
bruvee uttered; “I couldn’t even finish reading it 😢😢😢poor babies. They didn’t have to go through all that nonsense. Wicked predators. 5 years is not even enough 💔💔.”
acup.ofrose said; “One by one they will meet their Waterloo Dean of law faculties and lecturers too. Your days of reckoning is coming.”
