ICPC Closes Sexual Harassment Case Against UNICAL Professor

On Wednesday, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) closed its sexual harassment and gratification case against the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Cyril Ndifon, with four witnesses.

ICPC counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, who had earlier said he had about seven witnesses to nail the professor, announced the closure of his case after a forensic analyst, Fungo Bwaigu, his fourth witness, was cross-examined by the defendant’s lawyer, Joe Agi.

Bwaigu, who entered the witness box before Justice James Omotosho on Tuesday, gave interpretation to the alleged call logs, WhatsApp chats and exchange of nude videos between a female student at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), known as TKJ (not her real name), and Ndifon.

Professor Ndifon and one Barrister Sunny Anyanwu are standing trial for alleged sexual harassment and gratification against TKJ and others.

THE WHISTLER recalls that TKJ had testified that Prof. Ndifon forced her to perform oral sex on him in exchange for help with admission to UNICAL.

Under cross-examination by the defence, TKJ (PW2) had admitted that some of the allegations she made in court — including being forced to perform oral sex on the professor — were not mentioned in her original statements to the ICPC, saying her experience was summarised out of “shame”.

An official of the ICPC, Lucy Ogechi Chima (PW1), had also told the court that a forensic analysis carried out on the phone of the professor revealed nude photos of several contacts, including that of the witness, TKJ.

At the resumed trial on Monday, the prosecution obtained leave of court to display the forensic analysis and examination report from the phones of the defendants and TKJ said to contain screenshots of WhatsApp chats, nude videos, phone calls and text messages.

Videos of the nude videos were displayed in open court before a few representatives of the parties, Federation of Women Lawyers, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and journalists.

The witness explained to the court that one of the nude videos was sent on September 26, 2023, and was followed by a chat from the suspended dean, reading “Not too fast. Place your clothes aside and do it from the chin down.”

Under continuation of cross-examination by the defendant’s counsel on Wednesday, the analyst said from the call log, he does not know what TKJ and the prof discussed.

He added that the analysis he carried out on the mobile phone showed clearly that the first communication between TKJ and the dean through the WhatsApp channel was on March 14, 2023 and the message was “Good evening sir”.

The witness also said he did not analyse TKJ’s phone, saying ” I was not given TKJ’s phone by ICPC to analyse.”

After his testimony, Akponimisingha told the court “This is the case for the Prosecution and we have closed our case today.”

Agi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said he would make a no-case submission, implying his client had no case to answer.

He then asked for seven days to file his no-case submission.

The ICPC lawyer assured the court that immediately the defence serves him with the no-case submission, he will also require seven days to reply.

“This matter is adjourned to 27 February for the adoption of written addresses for no-case submission,” Justice Omotosho ruled.