The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has initiated an investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment against the Dean, Faculty of Law, Prof. Cyril Ndifon.
Students of the institution aired their grievances in a viral video shared on social media, accusing Ndifon of sexually assaulting and harassing them.
In a display of collective dissent, students from the Faculty of Law converged outside the office of the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, bearing placards emblazoned with demands for action.
The students raised concerns not only about the alleged sexual misconduct but also about the overall learning environment within the faculty. Inscriptions on the placards read,
“Ndifon must go for our sanity,” “We are tired of buying law journals,” “We are tired of lecturers not attending classes,” and “Law girls are not your bonanza; Prof. Ndifon should stop grabbing us and others.”
Responding to these allegations, Prof. Ndifon vehemently denied the accusations, attributing the protests to a vendetta held by certain individuals within the faculty.
He expressed his frustration, stating, “For Christ’s sake, I don’t teach Year 2 B or Year one students, so I don’t know why they have chosen to drag my name into the mud. This was why I said earlier that the allegations were lies, cooked from the pit of hell, just to destroy a reputation that I had spent decades building.”
Okay.ng reliably gathered that the university’s spokesperson, Eyo Bassey, confirmed that the school management had met with the aggrieved parties to address the issues.
Bassey reassured the public that a comprehensive statement regarding the situation would be released promptly. He highlighted that the students’ grievances encompassed a broader range of concerns beyond the allegations of sexual harassment.
“The students came out with their protest, carrying placards… There are all kinds of other issues they raised and management commended them for bringing the issues to their attention,” Bassey stated.
As the investigation unfolds, the University of Calabar must navigate a complex terrain, balancing the need to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for students while upholding the principles of fairness and justice for all parties involved.
The outcome of this investigation will undoubtedly have significant ramifications on the institution’s reputation and the future course of action taken by both the administration and the students.
