After intense pressure from netizens, rights activists, and public affairs analysts, the University of Calabar has finally suspended its controversial Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Cyril Ndifon over the allegations of sexual harassment made by students of the faculty.
The suspension is a sequel to the protests organised by female students of the Faculty on Monday. A viral video on social media had shown students of the faculty storming the office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, holding placards with inscriptions such as, “Ndifon must go for our sanity”, “We are tired of buying law journals”, “We are tired of lecturers not attending classes”, and “Law girls are not your bonanza; Prof. Ndifon should stop grabbing us and others.”
Cyril Ndifon’s suspension, effective from August 17, 2023, followed a probe by the management of the school into the alleged sexual harassment made against him by female students of the faculty on Monday.
The professor has however denied the allegations, stating that the protest was orchestrated by individuals within the faculty who held a grudge against him.
The university’s spokesperson, Eyo Bassey revealed that in a 17 August 2023 letter signed by UniCal’s registrar, Gabriel Egbe, the management said it was dissatisfied with the response to the query served on Prof. Ndifon.
Part of the letter reads: “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 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 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.”
In his undergraduate days, Prof . Ndifon was said to have been a student of UniCal Faculty of Law but got expelled on the grounds of secret cult matters and proceeded to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University).
Years after his call to Bar, the same university that expelled him gave him employment in the same faculty from where he was expelled.
