The fate of Prof Cyril Ndifon, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, is hanging on the balance as the university’s management suspended and plans to set up a panel to investigate sexual harassment allegations levelled against him.
Ndifon’s suspension took effect from Thursday following a probe into the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by some female students of the faculty.
Female and male students of the faculty on Monday, August 14, 2023 protested demanding the immediate removal of the Dean of the faculty, Prof. Ndifon.
In a viral video on social media, the students of the faculty stormed the office of the school’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Florence Obi, wielding placards with different inscriptions.
These were “Ndifon must go for our sanity,” “We are tired of buying law journals,” “We are tired of lecturers not attending classes,” “We are tired of sucking big ****”, “Professor Ndifon, let the girls with big breasts breathe. ”Stop suffocating us,” “Enough of law school list manipulation,” “Law girls are not your bonanza; and ”Prof. Ndifon should stop grabbing us and others.”
However, in an interview with CrossRiverWatch, the professor denied the allegations, saying the protest was orchestrated by individuals within the faculty who held a grudge against him.
In a letter by the school’s Registrar, Gabriel Egbe, Thursday through the university’s spokesperson, Eyo Bassey, the management said it was unsatisfied with the response to a query served on Ndifon.
The letter partly read, “Please refer to our letter Ref UC/REG/DISC.45A dated August 14, 2023, on your alleged violation of the provisions of the extant laws and policies of the university and your response to the said letter which was dated August 16, 2023.
“The vice-chancellor has gone through your written representations and is not satisfied with your explanations.
“She has therefore directed that you be relieved of your position as the Dean, Faculty of Law and placed on suspension while the matter is referred to a panel that will be set up to investigate these allegations.
“The relief of position as the Dean, Faculty of Law, and suspension from official duties takes effect from August 17, 2023. You are to hand over all university property in your possession, including all official responsibilities presently handled by you, to the Sub-Dean of the Faculty before vacating office.
“You are to stay away from the university premises except while responding to an invitation from the panel investigating these allegations.”
Ndifon has a bachelor’s degree in law from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife in 1989, and two postgraduate degrees (LL.M and Ph.D) in law.
In 2015, he was suspended by the vice-chancellor of UNICAL for allegedly r*ping a 20-year-old 400-level student in his office.
The professor was later reinstated in 2022 after a court cleared him of the charges.
