Sexual assault: Court remands suspended UNICAL Prof pending bail

Sexual assault: Court remands suspended UNICAL Prof pending bail

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, on Monday, ordered that Professor Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the conclusion of his bail application.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had on Monday, arraigned Ndifon in court on a 4-count charge over an alleged sexual misconduct against some of his students.

The Professor of Law however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

After taking his plea, counsel to the defendant, Okon Efut had urged the court to grant bail to his client as the application to that effect was filed on January 2, 2024.

However, counsel to the ICPC, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha opposed the bail application on the ground that one of the lawyers representing the defendant, Barrister Sunny Anyanwu had allegedly threatened one of the star witnesses ICPC lined up for the trial.

In his defence, Barrister Anyanwu, who had earlier argued that the name of the said witness was not listed in the charges read, later told the court that it was the ‘witness’ that called him.

Justice Omotosho however directed Barrister Anyanwu to file his affidavit of fact within 48 hours over the threat allegation of ICPC witness leveled against him.

He also ruled that the defendant, Professor Cyril Ndifon, be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre till Wednesday, January 10, 2024 when hearing on his bail application would be concluded.