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Sexual Harassment: ICPC closes case against UNICAL professor, lawyer
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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Wednesday, closed its case against Cyril Ndifon, the suspended dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), and his co-defendant, Sunny Anyanwu.
ICPC’s counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, told Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court after Bwaigu Fungo, the fourth prosecution witness, a forensic and intelligence analyst with the commission, was cross-examined by the defence lawyer, Joe Agi.
Mr Akponimisingha had earlier informed the court that the anti-corruption commission had about seven witnesses and planned to amend the charge to increase the witness number in proving their case against the defendants.
Mr Ndifon was, on January 25, re-arraigned alongside Mr Anyanwu as first and second defendants on an amended four-count charge bordering on alleged sexual harassment and attempt to perverse the cause of justice.
Mr Anyanwu, who is one of the lawyers in the defence, was joined in the amended charge filed on January 22 by the ICPC on the allegation that he called one of the prosecution witnesses on her mobile telephone during the pendency of the charge against Mr Ndifon to threaten her.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts.
The judge had, on Friday, granted bail to Messrs Ndifon and Anyanwu in the sum of N250 million and N50 million, respectively, with two sureties each in the like sum.
Upon resumed trial on Wednesday, Mr Fungo’s cross-examination continued.
When Mr Agi asked the forensic analyst if he knew what Mr Ndifon and TKJ, the female student alleged to have been sexually harassed, discussed in the call log, he said he did not know.
When the lawyer asked the witness if he knew the first communication between Mr Ndifon and TKJ, Mr Fungo said from the analysis he carried out on the mobile phones, their first communication through the WhatsApp channel was on March 14, 2023, and the message was: “Good evening sir.”
The witness, who also said he did not analyse TKJ’s phone during the investigation, said the ICPC did not give him TKJ’s phone to analyse.
After Mr Fungo’s testimony, Mr Akponimisingha told the court that the prosecution was closing its case.
“This is the case for the prosecution, and we have closed our case today,” he said.
Responding, counsel to the defendants, Mr Agi, told the court they planned to file a no-case submission.
He said he would need seven days to file the application.
The ICPC lawyer assured the court that immediately, the defence served him with the no-case submission, he would also need about seven days to reply.
The judge consequently adjourned the matter until February 27 to hear the defendants’ no-case submission.
Meanwhile, Messrs Ndifon and Anyanwu have yet to perfect their bail described as being too stringent.
The judge had, on February 9, admitted Mr Ndifon to a N250 million bail with two sureties.
The judge held that the two sureties, who must be owners of landed property in the FCT with registered titles and a minimum valuation of N150 million, must submit their certified bank statements to the court’s registrar.
He also directed Mr Ndifon to submit his passport to the court registrar.
The judge ordered the suspended dean to sign an undertaking not to interfere with the case, be ready to stand his trial and not to delay the trial.
Also ruling on Mr Anyanwu’s bail plea, the judge, who granted him a N50 million bail with two sureties, held that one of the sureties must have a property in FCT, but not with a registered title.
The judge directed the sureties to file their bank statements and ordered Mr Anyanwu to equally sign an undertaking not to interfere with the trial, to be ready to stand his trial and not delay the trial.
The judge also ordered accelerated hearing of the matter.
A woman was rescued on Tuesday after she reportedly jumped into the Lagos Lagoon from the Idumota section of the Carter Bridge in what was believed to be an attempt to take her own life.
The incident, which happened on the afternoon of August 4, attracted the attention of commuters, pedestrians and boat operators in the area, who quickly responded to rescue her.
Eyewitnesses said the woman plunged into the lagoon before nearby boat operators moved towards her and successfully brought her out of the water alive.
A video circulating online captured the moment the woman, appearing distressed and confused, was seated inside a rescue boat shortly after she was pulled from the lagoon.
During the rescue operation, a crowd gathered on the bridge, with some bystanders appealing to the boat operator not to immediately hand the woman over to the police.
Some members of the public were also heard expressing concern about her emotional condition while questioning the circumstances that may have led to the incident.
The development has renewed discussions on the importance of mental health awareness, emotional support systems and the need for early intervention for individuals experiencing psychological distress.
Authorities are yet to release an official statement regarding the incident, and details about the woman’s identity and current condition remain unknown.
The Kano State Hisbah Board has detained a TikToker popularly known as Namadina Tudunwada over allegations that he promoted premarital sex in a viral video shared on social media.
The board said the suspect was arrested by its Tudunwada Command after officials reviewed a video in which he allegedly presented illicit sexual relationships as a cheaper alternative to marriage, a message authorities believe could negatively influence young people.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Deputy Commander-General of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Dr. Mujahid Aminuddeen, said the content was considered capable of encouraging immoral behaviour and undermining the moral and religious values the board is mandated to protect.
According to him, investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the publication of the video and other related materials before determining the next legal steps.
He said the suspect would be charged in court if the outcome of the investigation substantiates the allegations against him.
The incident comes amid growing public debate over the rising cost of marriage in northern Nigeria. While the TikToker has recently used his social media platforms to advocate for lower marriage expenses, the Hisbah Board maintained that the specific video under investigation crossed acceptable boundaries by allegedly portraying fornication as a preferable alternative to marriage.
Dr. Aminuddeen also cautioned social media influencers and other digital content creators to exercise greater responsibility in the content they publish online.
He warned that posts capable of eroding public morality or misleading young audiences could attract legal consequences.
The deputy commander-general reaffirmed the board’s commitment to monitoring digital platforms for content considered contrary to the moral and religious values upheld in Kano State. He also urged social media users to be mindful of the messages they disseminate.
A 21-year-old Nigerian basketball player, Daniel Tobiloba Adegboyega, has been arrested in the United States and charged with first-degree rape.
According to court records, the Jacksonville State University men’s basketball player is being held at the Calhoun County Jail pending a bond hearing. Jail records also show that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a hold on him.
The charge stems from an incident said to have occurred on July 29, 2026. An arrest warrant alleges that Adegboyega engaged in s+xual intercourse with the complainant “by forcible compulsion,” in violation of Alabama law.
Adegboyega joined Jacksonville State in May after spending last season at the University of California, Riverside, having previously played for the University of South Florida. He had also signed with Kennesaw State in 2022 but never featured for the team.
Following his arrest, Jacksonville State suspended him from its men’s basketball team and removed his profile from the university’s athletics website.
In a statement, the university said: “We are aware of the arrest. In response, the individual has been suspended from the men’s basketball team.”
It added that the alleged incident did not occur on campus and remains under investigation by the Jacksonville Police Department. Under Alabama law, a conviction for first-degree rape carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
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