ICPC Forensic Expert Testifies Against UNICAL Professor About ‘Nude Videos’ Of Student In WhatsApp Chats

On Monday, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) fielded a forensic analyst, Fungo Bwaigu, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, to buttress the allegations of sexual harassment against the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, Professor Cyril Ndifon.

Bwaigu, who entered the witness box before Justice James Omotosho, gave interpretation to the supposed call logs, WhatsApp chats and nude videos believed to be between the phone number of 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 also 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 were 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 be containing screenshots of WhatsApp chats, nude videos, phone calls and text messages.

Videos of the nude videos were displayed in open court but 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.”

The witness said the WhatsApp chats were basically done over the internet and showed requests and receipts of nude videos.

According to the witness, about 16 nude videos were extracted from the suspended dean’s phone with 3 of them belonging to TKJ.

Under cross-examination by the defendant’s counsel, Joe Agi, the witness was asked if the nude videos displayed in court were done out of necessity.

“The acts of TKJ were involuntarily done,” the analyst replied.

Agi demanded that the nude videos be played again for the analyst to confirm whether TKJ was moving her body in the clip.

“There was movement,” the witness replied.

Subsequently, Agi asked for an adjournment to continue his cross-examination of the analyst.

He also applied that the Nigerian Correctional Service should take the second defendant to the hospital for treatment and return him to custody pending the perfection of his N50 million bail.

The court granted the oral application and adjourned to February 14 for continuation of hearing.