By N. Ugoh
Abuja – Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court has ordered the remand of Professor Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), in the Kuje Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service. This decision comes pending the conclusion of Ndifon’s bail application, as revealed in a statement by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) spokesperson, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua.
The ICPC brought four counts of charges against Ndifon on Monday, accusing him of alleged sexual misconduct involving some of his students. The professor of law pleaded not guilty to the charges during the court proceedings.
In response to the charges, Okon Efut, the defense counsel, requested bail for Ndifon, highlighting that the application had already been filed on his behalf on January 2, 2024.
However, the ICPC’s counsel, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, opposed the bail application, citing an alleged threat made by one of the lawyers representing Ndifon, Barrister Sunny Anyanwu, against a star witness scheduled to testify for the ICPC.
Anyanwu, defending himself, argued that the witness’s name was not included in the charges read. Later, he informed the court that it was the ‘witness’ who contacted him.
Justice Omotosho addressed the matter by directing Barrister Anyanwu to file an affidavit of fact within 48 hours concerning the alleged threat against an ICPC witness. The court further ruled that Professor Cyril Ndifon should remain in the Kuje Correctional Centre until Wednesday, January 10, 2024, when the hearing on his bail application is expected to be concluded.
