When Queency Patrick, a lawyer and alumni of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar read about Nelly Idagba’s encounter with the controversial Prof. Cyril Ndifon, she told a story that revealed a deep and long-standing rot in that faculty.
Her story.
I read your story with a nostalgic depression.
I also studied in the faculty of Law Unical and can attest that your story is the experience of many female students from that faculty, not just from the notdistinguished notprof but from other predatory sex wizards.
While Ndifon gave up on me in his short pursuit, I had a nightmarish schooling existence with a certain Thomas Ekpang.
Ekpang told me face to face that if I didn’t sleep with him, I will never be a lawyer! I was failing his course, land law, a core course, and rewriting it for 4 years post-graduation. I ended up studying law for 9 years as against 5 years. I was so traumatised and swore never to practice law in my life. One day, after his threats and taunts, I told him that no member of his family will ever be a lawyer.
I wrote all manner of petitions to the then Dean and then VC and nothing came out of it, I gave up and accepted my fate until Ekpang was removed as Final Year exams officer.
The stories of Unical sex predators is a different can of worms and I hope with this protest, the whole house will be cleaned out.
Like most cases of sexual harrassmen, assault and abuse, it is not easy for victims to speak up cos at some point you begin to feel everything happening to you is ur own fault. You begin to doubt your self when no body in authority is willing to help you. I remember going as far as reaching the Chair person of the LGA where this man comes from, a woman, to no avail.
For those who fell prey, shame becomes the cloud over you need for justice. In my class forum now, a lot of women are boiling over as a result of the remembrance of thier encounters with these lecturers but none may speak out, we prefer to bury the trauma and allow it gnaw at us every time someone touches it. It is a sad situation.
I only pray and hope these young girls in this generation will get justice and thereby assuage the wounds of many.
Queency .
