By Godwin Otang
Gender and Development Action (GADA), in collaboration with the Federation International of Female Lawyers (FIDA), has dragged the National University Commission (NUC), University of Calabar (UNICAL); the Vice Chancellor, Professor Florence Obi, and the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Cyril Ndifon to the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar.
GADA and FIDA told CrossRiverWatch they are collaboratively seeking proactive measures by the UNICAL Governing body to ensure that cases of sexual harassment as recently seen in the varsity do not reoccur.
The two organizations focused on gender equality, empowering women and all forms of repressive practices against women, sought to ensure the school and NUC “compel” their employees to sign an undertaking not to exploit students or use their positions to oppress others.
Presiding on the matter on Thursday at the Federal High Court Calabar, in suit number FHC/CA/FHR/10/2024 Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, after entertaining the matter for the first time, adjourned the case to May 8, 2024, for hearing.
Shortly after the Court session, the prosecuting Counsel Doris Nduanusi, Esq. told CrossRiverWatch that the gesture is for “the National University Commission to be accountable as a supervisory body over the universities; prevent such abuses from repeatedly happening, as we have been hearing complaints from several universities and nothing has been done. We are trying to get the NUC to be more proactive in ensuring that policies are established in our schools to prevent future abuses.”
Former Ambassador to Ethiopia Nkoyo Toyo, and a brain behind GADA said “Beyond the actions taken to bring Professor Cyril Ndifon to account for his alleged conduct in UNICAL’s Law Faculty, we are very concerned that in the future, these types of incidents do not happen.”
FIDA Lawyer, Barrister Affiong Onung, who doubles as the Secretary-General explained: “The matter came up for the first time today. It has been adjourned for hearing. The court got to know the parties involved. The next adjourned date (May 8, 2024) the matter would proceed fully.”
Prof. Cyril Ndifon, a suspended Dean in the Faculty of Law, UNICAL, was accused of sexual harassment and other unwholesome practices against his students, was arrested, and currently facing trial in Federal High Court, Abuja.
He was remanded in Kuje prison Abuja in January 2024.
READ ALSO: Sexual Harassment: Court Remands Suspended UNICAL Professor In Kuje Prison
In February 2024 the Federal High Court granted him bail to the tune of N250 million Naira in the sexual harassment and gratification case instituted against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The court also granted his lawyer Sunny Anyanwu bail to the tune of 50 million naira among other stringent bail conditions.
RELATED: JUST IN: Court Grants Embattled UNICAL Professor N250 Million Bail.
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