Sexual Harassment: I Was Ashamed To Admit Giving ‘Blowjob’ To UNICAL Professor — Victim Tells Court

…As Court To Grant Defendants Bail On Friday

On Wednesday, a female student at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), known as TKJ (not her real name), testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja regarding allegations of sexual harassment against the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, Professor Cyril Ndifon.

Under cross-examination by the defense, TKJ admitted that some of the allegations she made in court – including being forced to perform oral sex on Prof. Ndifon – were not mentioned in her original statements to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Previously, TKJ had testified that Prof. Ndifon forced her to perform oral sex in exchange for help with admission to UNICAL.

“He bent my neck to suck his penis in front of my hostel inside his car and I begged him saying I was not feeling fine.

“He refused and kept on pushing my neck and he forced it till it entered my mouth,” the witness had said (she testified under shield).

The defense pointed out this was omitted from her statements to the ICPC but the witness claimed she had summarized her experience in those statements.

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

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had arraigned the university don for contravening Section 8 of the Corrupt Practices Act by “unethically and habitually requested/solicited and received sexual gratification cum pleasure in exchange for grades and mark upgrades from his female students.”

The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges.

An official of the ICPC, Lucy Ogechi Chima, 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.

The ICPC official also accused Anyanwu, the don’s lawyer, of calling the victim on phone and telling her not to disclose any information to the anti-graft agency when its officials commenced investigation on the development.

During cross examination, the defendants’ counsel, Joe Agi, had asked the ICPC official if she did all the forensic analysis as a lawyer, to which she said no, adding that she analysed the report presented to her by the ICPC team.

At the resumption of trial on Wednesday, the prosecution’s star witness, TKJ, was asked during cross-examination by the defense if she narrated how the professor allegedly asked her to her put her fingers in her virginity including “blowjob( inserting penis into one’s mouth) in her statements to the ICPC, to which she said no, explaining she only summarised her statements.

The witness was asked to tell the court when she got the professor’s phone number, when communication between both of them started and for how long.

“Our conversation started when students were sending condolence messages to him over the death of his mother.

“I could not remember how many times we conversed. I saw him many times. As the dean, when I saw him, I used to greet him.

“In his office, it is up to four times. Outside his office, several times within the school,” the witness said.

She was then asked to tell the court if her allegation of doing ‘blowjob’ on the professor in his car was written in the ICPC statement prior to the commencement of trial.

“I didn’t tell the ICPC while I was making statements because I was ashamed about it,” the witness said, confirming she tendered her statement in Calabar.

The star witness’ statement to the ICPC was then tendered as exhibits by the defense counsel and the court admitted it in evidence.

“You told this court that he forced you to do a blowjob in his car, he bent your neck to do it. What is blowjob?

“In those your two statements, this serious matter of blowjob, transfer of ₦3,000 to you, you never mentioned it in your statement to ICPC but you just manufactured it here in court?,” the defense again put forward another question to the witness.

TKJ’s response, “Blowjob means putting my mouth in his penis. I wouldn’t travel from my place to come here and tell lies (she said while crying).

“I did not also tell the ICPC in my statement that the N3,000 was for treatment. I just did a summary of what happened to ICPC.”

The prosecution further asked, “You have consistently said to this court that the principal reason why you were doing what you were doing(blowjob , sending nude videos) is because of admission to UNICAL?”

She responded in the affirmative, adding “but not just that; I obeyed him because of my safety after his sexual harassment.”

The witness confirmed having a series of chats and text messages with the dean but said all was done out of fear.

Earlier in the proceedings, TKJ told the court that Barrister Sunny called her on phone telling her not to disclose anything to the ICPC.

“I asked him why he called, he said he called because of Prof Ndifon. He also said he blamed his friend for everything that had happened. He said they have been friends for a long.

“He said if I am invited by the ICPC, I should not go and if I am given a paper to sign or write, I should not.

“He said if I should get a call from the ICPC, I should ignore the call.

“He said if I do what he asks me to do he will give me a better admission outside UNICAL,” TKJ said, adding she has never met the second defendant before or after he called.

After her testimony, the court discharged her from the witness box.

The prosecution counsel then told the judge he had about seven more witnesses to present and may even amend the charges against the professor so as to bring in more victims.

The defense counsel, Solomon Umoh then urged the court to grant his client bail in line with his application based on medical grounds.

But the prosecution counsel countered the bail application, asking the court to dismiss it.

Subsequently, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to 9,12, 14 February for ruling and for continuation of hearing.

But he added he was inclined to grant the respondents bail.

“I am going to grant them bail. I am likely to grant them but it is going to be conditional. If I see any act of deliberate delay on the part of the prosecution, I will deem your matter abandoned,” the judge warned saying if he sees any negative act from the defendants, he would revoke their bail.