The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has described the conviction of Prof. Cyril Ndifon as a watershed victory in Nigeria’s fight against sexual offences, abuse of office, and impunity.
ICPC spokesperson, Mr. Okor Odey, stated this at a news briefing convened to clarify the facts behind the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
On November 18, the court sentenced Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), to five years’ imprisonment for sexual harassment.
Odey said the verdict in Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Prof. Cyril Ndifon was an exceptional outcome in a criminal trial, emphasising that “the rule of law would penetrate the deepest recesses of privilege and authority.”
He added that the judgment was “an indictment of the culture of impunity that allows predators to hide within trusted institutions,” and a signal of the ICPC’s resolve to protect the vulnerable while holding powerful individuals accountable.
According to him, the conviction affirms that public trust is not a licence for exploitation and that institutions must serve as safeguards for the innocent, not sanctuaries for offenders.
Odey further noted that the court’s findings provide both legal and moral justification for a new era of accountability.
The court convicted Ndifon on Count 1 for violating Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, after finding him guilty of causing a student, identified under the pseudonym Miss TKJ, to send pornographic images of herself to him.
He was also convicted on Count 2 for violating Section 19 of the ICPC Act, 2000, having corruptly used his office as Dean to solicit nude images from the student in exchange for a false promise of university admission.
Odey explained that a second defendant, Mr. Sunny Anyanwu, a lawyer, was acquitted on Counts 3 and 4 relating to witness intimidation and conspiracy to pervert justice.
The court found that although a phone call was made, its intent was not independently corroborated beyond reasonable doubt.
Odey said the victim provided disturbing but vital insights into predatory behaviour and the abuse of power. She narrated how Ndifon groomed her by posing as a father figure before escalating boundary violations, isolating her, coercing her, and eventually sexually assaulting her in his office and vehicle.
The court also noted evidence showing that Ndifon continued to demand nude images even while the victim was in a hospital caring for her ill mother. Afterward, he sent her N3,000 in an attempt to buy her silence.
The judge described Ndifon as a “sexual predator,” a “disgrace to the community of learned persons,” and someone who showed no remorse but sought to shift blame for his prosecution.
Odey revealed that the ICPC commenced its investigation following viral student protests against the professor, which led to the submission of a formal petition on September 15, 2023. This, he said, demonstrated the agency’s responsiveness to public outcry.
Digital forensic evidence obtained from the defendants’ mobile phones—collected with signed consent—corroborated the victim’s testimony, including repeated demands for nude images.
Ndifon was arrested on October 4, 2023, with support from the Department of State Services (DSS) after he failed to honour ICPC’s invitation.
Odey stressed that all investigative procedures complied with the defendants’ rights. He added that the court’s admission of forensic evidence affirmed the commission’s integrity and the importance of credible evidence in proving complex offences beyond reasonable doubt.
Beyond the conviction, the judgment sends a message of hope to victims of sexual harassment and abuse of power. The court ordered that the victim’s identity be protected permanently under the pseudonym “TKJ.”
Odey commended the victim’s courage, noting that the judge praised her as a “shining example” for others who may be facing harassment, drawing on Lord Denning’s reminder that progress often requires bold, unprecedented action.
He also appreciated the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and partner NGOs for their support throughout the investigation and prosecution.
Odey concluded by assuring that the ICPC intends to sustain the momentum of this conviction and extend its efforts to universities and workplaces nationwide, warning that those who abuse their authority will not escape the reach of the law.
