A Federal High Court in Abuja will deliver its judgment on 17 November in the case of Professor Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Law at the University of Calabar, who is facing multiple charges including sexual harassment and obstruction of justice.
Justice James Omotosho announced the date after hearing final submissions from counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Osuobeni Akponimisingha, and defence lawyer, Joe Agi, SAN.
The ICPC had brought a four-count amended charge against Ndifon and his co-defendant, lawyer Sunny Anyanwu. Both men pleaded not guilty.
According to court filings, the ICPC accused Ndifon of soliciting indecent and obscene photographs from a female diploma student, identified as TKJ, via WhatsApp while serving as dean. Anyanwu was charged with allegedly attempting to threaten the same witness by phone during the trial.
Ndifon testified in his own defence and called one additional witness, a forensic analyst from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Justice Omotosho had earlier ruled in March that a prima facie case had been established, dismissing the defendants’ no-case submission and ordering them to enter their defence.
The ICPC closed its prosecution in February after calling four witnesses, including forensic experts.
The case has drawn national attention in Nigeria amid growing calls for stronger institutional responses to sexual misconduct within higher education. The upcoming ruling is expected to set an important precedent for how Nigerian universities handle allegations of abuse of power and sexual exploitation.
