The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Professor Cyril Ndifon, to five years’ imprisonment for sexually harassing a female diploma student. The judgment, delivered on Monday by Justice James Omotosho, marks one of the most significant court decisions on sexual misconduct in Nigeria’s academic institutions.
The case, which has attracted national attention since 2023, highlights the growing demand for accountability in Nigerian universities, where reports of lecturers abusing their positions for sexual favours have sparked public outrage.
Justice Omotosho held that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) successfully proved counts one and two of the amended charge against Ndifon beyond reasonable doubt. These counts centred on allegations that the professor demanded sexual acts and indecent photographs from a female student identified as TKJ, who also served as the star witness in the case.
For count one, the court sentenced Ndifon to two years in prison. For count two, he received a five-year sentence. The judge ruled that both terms would run concurrently, meaning he will effectively serve five years. Importantly, the court did not give an option of a fine, underscoring the seriousness of the offence.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho said the evidence before the court clearly showed that Ndifon used his position as dean to take advantage of a vulnerable student who was seeking admission into the university.
“The victim was desirous of being admitted into the university and the 1st defendant was in a position to help her,” the judge said. “The instances of undue advantage are so much. The 1st defendant abused his office.”
While delivering the same judgment, Justice Omotosho cleared Ndifon’s lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, of wrongdoing. Anyanwu had been joined as a second defendant in an amended charge accusing him of attempting to interfere with the administration of justice.
The ICPC had alleged that Anyanwu called the star witness, TKJ, during the pendency of the sexual harassment case in an attempt to intimidate or influence her. However, the court held that the Commission failed to establish a sufficient link between Anyanwu and the alleged offences in counts three and four.
“The prosecution was unable to tie the allegations to the second defendant,” Justice Omotosho ruled, before discharging and acquitting the lawyer.
The scandal involving Professor Ndifon first became public in 2023 after a group of UNICAL female law students staged a protest, accusing him of serial sexual harassment and abuse of power. The demonstration sparked public debate and led to Ndifon’s suspension by the university.
Shortly afterwards, the ICPC filed charges against him, accusing him of violating the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act. Initially, he was the sole defendant, but his lawyer, Anyanwu, was later added to the case in January 2024 through an amended charge.
The case gained further public interest because it revived long-standing concerns about sexual exploitation in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Many students and advocacy groups have repeatedly alleged that some lecturers exploit their authority to demand sexual favours in exchange for grades, admissions, or other academic benefits.
For years, activists and women’s rights groups have called for stricter enforcement of laws and stronger institutional protection for students. Ndifon’s case became a symbol of this broader struggle.
According to the ICPC’s amended charge, Ndifon demanded pornographic photos and indecent images from TKJ via WhatsApp during her diploma programme at UNICAL, at a time when he served as dean and supervised the programme. The prosecution said he also asked her to perform oral sex on him in exchange for helping her secure admission into the law faculty.
In court, Ndifon denied the accusations and testified in his own defence as the first defence witness (DW-1). His legal team also presented a forensic analyst, CSP Babagana Mingali of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), as DW-2. However, Justice Omotosho held that their testimonies did little to weaken the evidence presented by the prosecution.
The judge stated that Ndifon’s behaviour showed a pattern of pressuring the student into immoral acts and exploiting his position of power.
The conviction of a senior academic has been seen by many Nigerians as a significant victory for the fight against sexual misconduct in the country’s higher education system. Although several cases have emerged over the years, only a few have ended with convictions due to social stigma, fear of retaliation, and weak institutional mechanisms for reporting abuse.
Rights activists have long argued that the culture of silence makes it possible for some lecturers to repeatedly abuse students. “Sex for grades”—a term widely used in Nigeria—has been the subject of documentaries, legislative debates, and campaigns demanding reform.
In 2019, a BBC Africa Eye investigation exposed the scale of the problem in Nigerian and Ghanaian universities. The report triggered a national conversation and led to calls for stricter laws. While the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions bill has been discussed several times in the National Assembly, it is yet to be fully implemented.
While TKJ’s identity remains protected due to privacy concerns, the ruling is expected to bring some sense of relief and validation for her. Students often face pressure to remain silent or avoid challenging lecturers who wield significant power over their academic progress.
The court acknowledged this imbalance, with Justice Omotosho noting that the student was desperate for admission and placed in a vulnerable position that the professor exploited.
Although the University of Calabar has not yet issued a statement following the ruling, sources inside the institution say the management is likely to take further disciplinary action, including termination of Ndifon’s appointment.
The ICPC has welcomed the judgment as a major milestone in its efforts to address corruption and abuses in academic institutions. A senior official said the case demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to pursuing offenders regardless of their position.
