Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), has found himself at the center of a controversy surrounding allegations of sexually harassing female students.
The allegations came to light when a viral video captured law students accusing Ndifon of sexual assault and harassment.
On Monday, August 14, 2023, a group of female law students took a stand by protesting at the office of UNICAL’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi.
They raised concerns about alleged sexual harassment by the Dean, along with claims of extortion by some of their lecturers.
The students were armed with placards bearing strong messages such as “We are tired of sucking…,” “Ndifon Must Go For Our Sanity,” and “Law Girls Are Not Your Bonanza, Prof Ndifon Should stop grabbing us.”
The students called upon the university’s management to address their grievances. However, Prof. Ndifon denied the allegations, attributing them to the actions of a colleague whom he had defeated in a closely contested faculty election.
In an interview with CrossRiverWatch, an online platform, Prof. Ndifon stated, “Since I defeated some persons in an election that was keenly contested, to emerge as Dean of the faculty, it hasn’t been easy. I had skipped several booby traps.
These allegations are baselessly masterminded by my detractor, who had vowed to ensure that my image is dragged through the mud just because I won the faculty elections twice.”
He also pointed out inconsistencies in the accusations, emphasizing that the placards used during the protest seemed to have been written by a single person.
He questioned how the protesters were aware of the ongoing meeting with the Vice-Chancellor, suggesting the involvement of an insider.
Prof. Ndifon expressed his frustration, stating, “Colleagues of mine who are bent on tarnishing my reputation just to destroy me.
The question is: where are the victims of sexual harassment? Can someone harass girls without the ladies coming out to raise the alarm that they were sexually harassed?”
Notably, Prof. Ndifon had faced a similar situation in 2016 when a 20-year-old 400-level student accused him of sexually assaulting her.
This led to his suspension by the institution, which was meant to last until he was exonerated from all allegations. Dissatisfied with the suspension, he filed a lawsuit against UNICAL, claiming the university had exceeded its authority by extending the suspension beyond the statutory three months. However, the lawsuit was later dismissed by Justice Eunice Agbakoba.
The situation continues to draw attention as both sides present their perspectives on the matter, and the university community waits for further developments.
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