Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), has strongly denied the sexual harassment charges against him. In a court session on January 14, 2025, Ndifon testified that the images presented in the case, allegedly taken from his phone, were manipulated.
He told the court that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) had edited the photos, which he claims didn’t show his face or that of his accuser, TKJ. Ndifon denied ever sending nude photographs or requesting explicit material from TKJ. He stated that the Oppo phone where the images were found wasn’t the device he used to communicate with her.
Additionally, Ndifon argued that the ICPC never checked TKJ’s phone to confirm whether the photos were hers, claiming they didn’t seek her device for comparison. He also disputed the authenticity of the evidence marked “Exhibit H,” claiming it wasn’t from his phone.
The professor expressed his surprise over how the ICPC handled the case, mentioning that he wasn’t invited to observe the evidence extraction process. He also raised concerns about the timing of TKJ’s statements to the ICPC, suggesting they were made after he had already been charged with the offense.
Ndifon further claimed that TKJ, who is now a student in UNICAL’s Faculty of Law, was admitted under questionable circumstances. He stated that her uncle had asked for his help in securing her admission, despite her low test score. Ndifon said he turned down the request, advising her to pursue a diploma program.
In addition to denying the harassment accusations, Ndifon also refuted claims of making inappropriate advances toward TKJ. He emphasized that the alleged incident occurred after he had stepped down from his position as the dean.
The case is set to continue on February 12 and 13, 2025. Ndifon is facing charges of sexual harassment and attempting to interfere with the judicial process. His lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, has also been charged with allegedly threatening a witness in the case. Both Ndifon and Anyanwu have pleaded not guilty.
