Sexual Abuse: Unical alumni demand university-wide probe after dean’s suspension

The University of Calabar alumni association has hailed the suspension of the school’s dean of law faculty, Cyril Ndifon, over allegations of sexual abuse.

Mr Ndifon’s case has put the university’s name in a “terrible light” and makes it necessary for an extensive investigation into allegations of abuse and extortion by lecturers and administrative staff in the school, the group said.

“For us in the alumni body, this terrible narrative must stop. Management must make an example of any academic or administrative staff who use their position to disempower the students under their care,” its president, Yakubu Ochefu, said in a statement Friday.

“Prof. Ndifon is in the news today. Are there others like him lurking in the shadows of other departments and units? It is time to launch a university-wide investigation of sexual harassment and other forms of extortion from students.”

Mr Ndifon, a law professor, was suspended on Thursday following a protest by female students of the faculty who accused him of sexual abuse.

The school management said it was dissatisfied by his response to its query. A full investigation is underway, Vice Chancellor Florence Obi told Pluboard.

Sexual abuse

The lecturer was suspended in 2015 following a similar allegation. He appealed and won in court and was reinstated. More students have since accused him of harassment.

Mr Ndifon did not respond to our requests for comments. He told Premium Times that he did nothing wrong and blamed his colleagues (lecturers) for the protest. He said his colleague instigated the protest because he defeated them during the dean’s election.

“Ask the lecturers who are behind these things. I won an election. You should ask them if this man is that bad and unpopular, how come he won an election as dean with a landslide for the first and second term,” he told the newspaper.

The alumni association urged students of the university to speak out against injustice in their campus.

“We impulse management to ensure that this incident is investigated thoroughly and that anyone indicted is made to face the law. Enough of associating our precious name with deviltries,” it said.