The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has today convicted and sentenced Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), to five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine, bringing an end to a controversial trial that has drawn national attention since 2023.
Prof. Ndifon was arraigned on a four-count charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which alleged sexual misconduct, cybercrime, and attempts to obstruct justice. Central to the case was the accusation that he demanded “pornographic, indecent, and obscene photographs” from a female diploma student through WhatsApp, in what prosecutors described as a blatant abuse of authority and violation of the student’s rights.
The ICPC further alleged as gathered by ENTRUST REPORTS that one of the co-defendants, Ndifon’s former lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, attempted to intimidate and threaten a key witness during the trial. This act, according to the prosecution, amounted to an attempt to pervert the course of justice, deepening the seriousness of the allegations against both men.
During the proceedings, the defence filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish a credible case. However, in March 2024, trial judge Justice James Omotosho dismissed the submission, holding that the evidence presented by the ICPC established a prima facie case requiring the defendants to enter their defence.
Following the court’s ruling, the trial proceeded with Ndifon opening his defence. His legal team called a number of witnesses between late 2024 and early 2025, insisting that the allegations were fabricated and that the lecturer was the victim of institutional politics. Despite these efforts, the prosecution maintained that the evidence including digital messages and witness testimonies was overwhelming.
By April 2025, the defence closed its case, paving the way for the court to fix November 17, 2025 as the day for delivering its final judgment. Today’s verdict confirms the court’s position that the acts attributed to Ndifon met the threshold for criminal liability under Nigerian law.
Throughout the trial, Prof. Ndifon experienced several changes in his custodial status. He was initially remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, where he spent several weeks before his lawyers secured a bail of ₦250 million with two sureties in like sum. The bail conditions were later fulfilled, enabling him temporary freedom while the trial continued.
The court’s judgment has been described by legal analysts as a landmark moment in the fight against sexual misconduct within Nigerian tertiary institutions. Many observers believe the ruling sends a strong message to academic leaders that abuses of power especially those involving vulnerable students will attract firm legal consequences.
Reactions from UNICAL, the academic community, and civil society groups are expected in the coming hours as the country continues to follow the fallout of this high-profile conviction.
