Sexual assault: Court grants UNICAL professor, lawyer bail

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Cyril Ndifon, in the sum of N250 million.

The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling on Friday, February 9, 2024, also admitted Sunny Anyanwu, a lawyer charged alongside Ndifon by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to a N50 million bail, making a total of N300 million for the duo.

Justice Omotosho, who said the court was inclined to grant them bail in the interest of justice, held that the defendants had made out a prima facie case for the court to exercise its discretion in their favour.

Ndifon was, on January 25, re-arraigned alongside Anyanwu as 1st and 2nd defendants on an amended four-count charge bordering on alleged sexual harassment and attempt to perverse the cause of justice.

Anyanwu, who is one of the lawyers in the defence, was joined in the amended charge filed on January 22 by the ICPC on allegation that he called one of the prosecution witnesses on her mobile telephone during the pendency of the charge against Ndifon to threaten her.

The court had, in previous proceedings, denied the duo bail, on the ground that the witness, identified as TKJ (not real name) by the court, who was alleged to have been called on the phone, must be allowed to give her evidence before their bail hearing.

TKJ, a female Diploma student in UNICAL, concluded her testimony on Wednesday after she was cross-examined by the defence lawyer, Joe Agi (SAN).

Student in tears, recounts how she did blow job for Law Professor

Delivering his ruling on Ndifon’s bail application, Justice Omotosho admitted him to a N250 million bail with two sureties.

The judge held that the two sureties, who must be owners of landed property in Abuja with registered titles and a minimum valuation of N150 million, must submit their certified bank statements to the registrar of the court.

He also directed Ndifon to submit his international passport to the court registrar.

The judge ordered the suspended dean to sign an undertaking not to interfere with the case, be ready to stand his trial, and not delay the trial.

Also ruling on Anyanwu’s bail plea, Justice Omotosho, who granted him a N50 million bail with two sureties, held that one of the sureties must have a property in Abuja, but not with a registered title.

The judge directed the sureties to file their bank statements and ordered Anyanwu to equally sign an undertaking not to interfere with the trial, to be ready to stand his trial, and not delay the trial.

Justice Omotosho also ordered accelerated hearing of the matter.

He held that the court exercised the discretion in the defendants’ favour because of the nature of the offence and on health grounds.

The Star