A Civil Society Organization, Sacredhearts Gender Protection Initiative has queried the reinstatement and promotion of a Professor in the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Cyril Osim Ndifon, who was accused of raping a female student in his office.
The CSO in a petition made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, said that they find it hard to understand the basis for which Prof. Ndifon who was investigated and suspended by the University’s Governing Council over the allegation was reinstated as a staff of the university and made Dean of the Law Faculty.
The Executive Director of the organization, Dr. Rosemary Nwafor, in the petition vowed that in the coming weeks, the organization together with other Civil Society groups involved in Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) activities will lead a protest march and advocacy visit to international organizations and foreign embassies in the Federal Capital Territory to call the university management to order.
Parts of the petition read: “Is it that the Management of the University of Calabar has no moral standard for measuring or distinguishing right from wrong? Or is
it, because Ndifon is from Cross River State and the victim of the sexual assault is not?
“On behalf of the above named Civil Society Organization, I write to bring to your attention a hidden injustice, which your academic institution has refused to take action on. Our decision to take up this issue is in line with
the globally-proclaimed 16 days of activism, to rise up in protection of women and girls against Gender Based Violence (GBV).
“Madam Vice Chancellor, you will recall that on August 29, 2015, one Prof. Cyril Osim Ndifon, (who is currently the Dean of your Law Faculty) was accused of raping, in his office, a female law student of your University.
“After a preliminary investigation by the University Management, the said Ndifon was indicted and suspended as staff of the university. An attempt by Ndifon to set aside his suspension by the university was dismissed by a well-delivered judgment by the National Industrial Court on the 21st of
September 2016 (vide suit NICN/CA/01/2016).
“Apart from the foregoing, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) took over the investigation of the criminal part of the sexual harassment case against Ndifon. an attempt by Ndifon to stop the ICPC from investigating and prosecuting for abuse of office before the Federal High Court, Calabar was dismissed in court.
“On the 2nd of March, 2017 Justice l.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court Calabar, held that the application brought by Ndifon had no merit and that “the offence of sexual gratification was contrary to Sections 8,9 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000”. The Court of Appeal is yet to deliver its judgment on the above case.
“Arising from the above, we, therefore, find it hard to understand the basis for which Ndifon who is under investigation for sexual assault against a female law student was reinstated as a staff of the university and made Dean of
the Law Faculty.
“In the coming weeks, our organization together with other Civil Society groups involved in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) activities will lead a protest march and advocacy visit to international organizations and foreign embassies in the Federal Capital Territory to call your
university management to order.”
