By Jonathan Ugbal
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Calabar last week dismissed a suit filed by the suspended randy dean of the University of Calabar, UNICAL, Professor Cyril Ndifon challenging his suspension by the Varsity’s management among others.
Ndifon had approached the settlement’s Court after he was suspended following the presentation of a report by Prof. Dorathy Oluwagbemi-Jacob led panel as well as an internal panel of the institution which indicted him on several infractions.
The Court in its judgment in suit number NICN/CA/42/2024 dismissed Professor Ndifon’s suit for being frivolous and lacking in merit.
The claimant had sued the University of Calabar and four others including the Vice Chancellor, the Varsity’s Registrar, Prof. Oluwagbemi-Jacob, and one other to restrain the Vice-chancellor and the University of Calabar to discipline him over accumulated claims of rape among others.
Recall that Students in the Faculty of Law had protested over what they described as Ndifon’s excesses. This is the second time in eight years he is facing such allegations.
Following his suspension in 2015, for raping a 20-year old 200 Level student of the Law faculty in his office while serving as Dean, Professor Ndifon had on January 12, 2016, dragged the University to the National Industrial Court in Calabar to challenge his suspension and possible sack.
In suit No. NICN/CA/01/2016, Professor Cyril Osim Ndifon, asked the court to determine whether it was right for the school to suspend him and to overturn the suspension. He lost that suit too.
However, he was recalled by the institution in 2017 and rose to be elected as Dean again until the last incident where he is currently facing trial after being arraigned by the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC.