A Nigerian court has sentenced Professor Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), to five years in prison for sexually harassing female students. The ruling is being described as a landmark moment in Nigeria’s fight against sexual misconduct in higher education.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered the judgment on 17 November 2025. Ndifon was convicted on two counts filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which argued that his actions violated both ethical standards and anti‑corruption laws.
The ICPC had brought a four‑count amended charge against Ndifon in January 2024, accusing him of exploiting his position to harass female students. After months of hearings, the court found him guilty on the first two counts. He received two years on one count and five years on the other, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Ndifon’s co‑defendant, lawyer Sunny Anyanwu, was discharged and acquitted after the court ruled that prosecutors had not proven his involvement. The acquittal narrowed the case to Ndifon alone, underscoring the personal responsibility of the former dean.
The conviction follows years of allegations against Ndifon, who was suspended from his position at UNICAL after female law students accused him of harassment. His case became emblematic of the wider problem of sexual exploitation in Nigerian universities, where students often fear retaliation if they report misconduct.
Human rights advocates have hailed the ruling as a watershed moment. Women’s rights groups argue that the judgment sends a strong signal to academic institutions across Nigeria that sexual harassment will no longer be tolerated or dismissed as an internal matter.
Students at UNICAL expressed relief at the outcome, with many describing the verdict as overdue justice. “This shows that the system can work if victims speak out and authorities act,” one student said outside the courtroom. Others urged universities to strengthen reporting mechanisms and provide safe channels for complaints.
Legal experts note that the case highlights the expanding role of Nigeria’s anti‑corruption agencies. By prosecuting ethical violations alongside financial crimes, the ICPC has broadened its mandate to include abuses of power in public institutions. Analysts say this approach could reshape accountability standards in academia.
The ruling also resonates across Nigeria’s university system, where sexual harassment has been a persistent crisis. Investigations at institutions such as the University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University have exposed “sex‑for‑grades” scandals, revealing systemic abuse of power by lecturers. While disciplinary measures have often been limited to suspensions or internal probes, Ndifon’s conviction stands out because it resulted in a criminal sentence and jail term.
Ndifon’s conviction in Nigeria also reflects a wider global reckoning with sexual harassment in higher education. In the United States, landmark cases at institutions such as the University of California and Harvard have led to dismissals, multimillion‑dollar settlements, and strengthened Title IX protections. Across Europe, universities in the United Kingdom and France have introduced mandatory reporting systems and independent investigative panels to ensure that complaints are handled transparently. Nigeria’s ruling therefore places the country within this global movement, signaling that its universities are beginning to align with international standards of accountability.
