Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), on Friday concluded his defence in the ongoing sexual harassment case before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The case was adjourned until July 2 for the adoption of final written addresses after Ndifon’s lawyer, Joe Agi, SAN, indicated the intention to close the defence.
The suspended professor wrapped up his defence after presenting two witnesses to challenge the allegations brought against him and his co-defendant, Sunny Anyanwu, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Ndifon testified as the first defence witness, followed by CSP Babagana Mingali, a forensic analyst at the laboratory of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), who served as the second witness.
The case had previously seen a setback on March 6, 2024, when Justice James Omotosho dismissed a no-case submission from Ndifon and Anyanwu against the ICPC charges. The judge ruled that the evidence presented by the prosecution formed a prima facie case, compelling both defendants to present their defence.
The ICPC has filed a four-count amended charge against Ndifon and Anyanwu, accusing them of sexual harassment, cybercrime, and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The allegations involve Ndifon allegedly asking a female Diploma student to send him explicit photographs through WhatsApp while serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Law. Anyanwu was implicated for allegedly threatening the student during the ongoing investigation.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The ICPC had closed its case against them on February 14, 2024.
(NAN)