Project Alert said that instead of teaching students how to uphold the law, Ndifon has been teaching them criminal conduct and how to get away with it.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Project Alert on Violence Against Women has called on the police to arrest, investigate and prosecute the suspended dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof Cyril Ndifon, accused of sexually harassing students.
Last Monday, students of the faculty protested against Ndifon at the office of the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Florence Obi, carrying placards. A video of their protest went viral on social media.
The university management has since suspended Ndifon and relieved him of his duties pending the conclusion of an investigation.
Executive Director of Project Alert, Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, in a statement on Sunday, said it is time for sexual abuse to stop in higher institutions.
The statement said, “Project Alert on Violence Against Women have been following closely, and with deep interest and concern, the unfolding saga of sexual harassment, rape and sex for grades being alleged by students of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar against one of their lecturers. At the centre of this ugly saga is the Dean of the faculty, Prof. Cyril Ndifon. However, it seems he is not alone because the students of the faculty, in a heartbreaking but very graphic protest carried out last week in the school, stated clearly that they are “tired of sucking dicks” (penises).
“We will like to note that this is not the first time Prof. Cyril Ndifon will be in the news for sexual harassment and demand for sex in exchange for grades from his students. In 2015, the UNICAL graduating Law Class of 2004, all of whom are Solicitors and Advocates of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and practicing law within and outside the country, had written a petition to the then Cross River State Commissioner of Police. This was sequel to a reported case of sexual abuse by a 400-level female student at the time. In the petition they stated that Prof. Cyril Ndifon’s sexual harassment of female students, and his unscrupulous behavior were well known to male and female students in the faculty. They stated that these unprofessional and criminal conducts of his, had been going on for over two decades, as Professor Ndifon goes about boasting about how powerful he is; and the first indigenous law professor in UNICAL.
“The university suspended him then, and the Industrial Court upheld the suspension. However, the police helped free him of the rape and sexual assault allegations; and the Nigerian Bar Association also freed him as the panel it set up to investigate aspects of his conduct that fell within the ambit of professional misconduct gave him a clean bill of health. Somehow, he found his way back to the university with the support of the University Council and other prominent Nigerians who also abused their positions in society to get him back into the system. And now, in 2023, here we are again. The students of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar are crying out. Sadly, what has become obvious is that Prof. Cyril Osim Ndifon is not alone. Indeed, there are many NDIFONS – in the Faculty of Law, in other department and faculties in UNICAL; and even in other universities in the country.
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“University of Calabar is not alone in this sexual rot in our universities. In truth, NO UNIVERSITY or TERTIARY INSTITUTION is exempted. Years ago, it happened at Obafemi Awolowo University. It also happened at University of Lagos etc. Sexual predators are all over our campuses. Sexual harassment and sex for grades have become normalized and lecturers, Head of Departments, Deans all engage in these illicit, unprofessional, criminal and despicable acts. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. These atrocities have damaged and are still damaging the psyche of our children especially our daughters. It has affected and is still affecting the quality of graduates being churned out yearly.”
Project Alert said that instead of teaching students how to uphold the law, Ndifon has been teaching them criminal conduct and how to get away with it.
“At Project Alert our vision is “a society where there is zero tolerance for all forms of violence against women and girls” and as such we actively engage in programmes and activities aimed at achieving our vision. One of such ongoing programmes being carried out currently in tertiary institutions in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, is the KASA project. KASA means “Speak UP” – encouraging survivors to speak up; and holding perpetrators accountable.
“While we commend the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, for immediately suspending him, we encourage her and the management team of UNICAL to set up an investigative panel of credible persons to wade into the matter. We also call on her to ensure that NONE OF THE STUDENTS who participated in the protest is VICTIMISED in any way by the lecturers in the faculty. Special attention should be paid to their tests and exam scripts.
“We call on the police to arrest, investigate and prosecute Prof Ndifon and any other lecturer mentioned in this criminal act. We encourage the police to be more detailed and professional in carrying out their investigations this time, leaving no stone unturned. Impunity should not be encouraged or tolerated by the police, with “a call from above” from the police hierarchy, corrupt family members and friends of Prof Ndifon in politics, governance or otherwise sufficient to subvert justice.
“As a people, Nigerians cannot continue to operate lawlessly and corruptly. We cannot continue to be silent, blind, deaf and dumb to evil, especially as it affects our youths in educational institutions. Our schools – primary, secondary and university – should be safe places for our children. Our institutions should not be staging areas for the destruction of our children’s lives,” the statement added.