UNICAL Prof, Ndifon, His lawyer Slammed With Fresh Charge Of Threatening ICPC Witness 

•Nude Pictures, Videos Of Students Found In Prof’s Phone – Witness

Ayuba Sanusi 

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has slammed a fresh charge on the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), Professor Cyril Ndifon and has now arraigned his lawyer, Barrister Sunny Anyanwu along with him on allegation of threatening the Conmission’s witness.

The ICPC had on Monday 8th January 2024 arraigned Professor Ndifon on four (4) counts charge over alleged sexual misconduct against some of his students.

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

Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that counsel to the ICPC, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha had opposed the bail application of Professor Ndifon 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.

The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja however directed Barrister Anyanwu to file his affidavit of fact within 48 hours over the threat allegation of an ICPC witness leveled against him.

He also ruled that Professor Ndifon be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre till Wednesday, 10th of January, 2024 when hearing on his bail application would be determined

At the resumed hearing of the suit on Thursday, Dr Ekoi Akponimisingha, sought the leave of court to substitute the earlier charge dated and filed on 30th October 2023 with an amended charge dated 19th day of January 2024 and filed on the 22nd day of January 2024. 

Count 4 of the amended charge reads: “That you Professor Cyril Osim Ndifon (M) and Barrister Sunny Anyanwu (M) sometime in November 2023 or thereabouts, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire between yourselves to call “TKJ” (Not real name) on her mobile telephone number: 070**********, a prosecution witness in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/511/2023 between Federal Republic of Nigeria and Professor Cyril Osim Ndifon during the pendency of the said criminal charge and threatened her not to honour the invitation of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in respect of the criminal investigation against Professor Cyril Osim Ndifon which conduct, you both knew was intended to perverse the cause of justice and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 182 of the Penal Code Cap. 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, 2006.”

The two defendants however pleaded not guilty when the amended charges were read to them.

Their plea set the tone for the commencement of trial as counsel to the ICPC, Dr Akponimisingha, informed the court that some of the Commission’s witnesses were in court and were ready to proceed to trial.

The defendants’ lawyer, Mr. Okon Efut (SAN) however differed and prayed that the bail application hearing for the first defendant be concluded before the commencement of the trial and his formal response to the amended charges.

He hinged his argument on a medical report that ‘recommended’ an extension for the planned glaucoma surgery for the first defendant.

Justice Omotosho however ruled that since the medical report requesting for the extension was not formally filed in court, the main trial would continue as the court would not rely on a document that was not before it. 

Shortly before the first prosecution witness was called, Justice Omotosho directed that members of the press covering the court proceeding should not take or publish pictures of any of the witnesses that would appear in court neither should their real names be mentioned as the court wish to protect them against any form of persecution.

In her evidence in chief, the first prosecution witness, an investigator with the ICPC told the court how the first defendant (Professor Ndifon) was arrested following a petition on sexual harassment, official corruption and abuse of office was submitted against him.

She also told the court that some nude pictures and videos of certain contacts (who were students of the first defendant) were found in his phone when his WhatsApp messaging application was subjected to forensic examination.   

The presiding judge adjourned the hearing of the trial and the ruling on the bail application for Friday, 26th of January, 2024. He also ordered the remand of the two defendants at the Kuje Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Eighteen-Eleven Media