The suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Cyril Ndifon, has alleged that images linking him to an ongoing sexual harassment case were altered.

Recall that the suspended lecturer made this claim on Tuesday while testifying before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Ndifon, who was suspended following allegations of misconduct, stated that photos purportedly extracted from his phone by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had been edited.

During his testimony as the first defense witness (DW-1), led by his lawyer Joe Agi, SAN, Ndifon denied sending or requesting explicit images.

“I did not send any nude photographs neither did I solicit for any.

“This (Oppo phone) is not the phone I used to chat with her (alleged rape victim).

“She has another number which she used to chat with me,” he said.

He explained that neither his face nor that of the prosecution’s key witness, identified as TKJ, appeared in the pictures.

Disputed Evidence and ICPC Procedures

Ndifon questioned the authenticity of “Exhibit H,” which included photos and chats allegedly exchanged with the complainant.

He asserted, “All these pictures are not from my phone. Looking at it, slide 661 shows that this document has been edited.

“I haven’t gone through the whole document so I don’t know which other part was edited.

“I watched the video slide, but I didn’t see my face or TKJ’s (name of the girl withheld).

“The ICPC didn’t invite me to where they were doing the extraction and I haven’t been told about who told ICPC about the complain.”

He further criticized the ICPC for failing to verify the evidence properly, noting that the complainant’s phone was not analyzed for corroboration.

The embattled professor also claimed that the ICPC did not involve him in the evidence extraction process or disclose the source of the complaint.

Allegations of Admission Irregularities

The professor alleged that TKJ, now a student in the Faculty of Law, gained admission irregularly.

He claimed she was admitted despite not meeting the qualifications, having scored only 102 in her JAMB examination.

According to Ndifon, her uncle, based in the UK, had earlier sought his assistance in recovering ₦100,000 allegedly paid to someone in the Vice Chancellor’s office to secure her admission. Ndifon said he declined to intervene.

He also stated that TKJ later enrolled in a diploma program and that he advised her to focus on her studies to gain admission through direct entry.

Denial of Sexual Harassment Claims

Ndifon vehemently denied all allegations, including claims that he requested obscene photographs or made inappropriate advances toward TKJ.

“The allegation against me occurred when I was no longer in the Faculty of Law, so she cannot say I had asked for oral sex or any other advances.

“I’m totally shocked she came to testify, because nothing like that happened,” he insisted.

Ndifon disclosed that he owns three phones, with his iPhone being his primary device for communication. He maintained that the Oppo phone, where the incriminating photos were allegedly found, was not his main line.

ICPC’s Charges

Naija News recalls that the ICPC had re-arraigned Ndifon and his lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, on January 25, 2024, over allegations of sexual harassment and attempts to pervert the course of justice.

The commission alleged that Ndifon requested obscene images from TKJ through WhatsApp while serving as Dean.

Anyanwu was also accused of threatening one of the prosecution witnesses during the trial.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case has been adjourned to February 12 and 13 for further proceedings.