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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.
The Airport Police Command has debunked reports of a terrorist attack at the Asaba International Airport in Delta State, revealing that the security operation witnessed at the facility was part of a planned simulation exercise.
The exercise, conducted on Thursday, September 10, 2026, was organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to assess the preparedness of security and emergency-response agencies in handling potential threats.
According to the Airport Police Command, personnel from various security agencies were deployed as part of the controlled exercise, which was designed to recreate a simulated security incident within the airport environment.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Adeola, said the exercise tested critical areas including inter-agency coordination, communication, command and control, and emergency response.
The Command stressed that no terrorist attack, invasion or security breach occurred at the airport, contrary to claims circulating on social media.
Police described the operation as a “controlled and authorised activity” and appealed to members of the public, particularly travellers and airport users, not to panic or share unverified reports.
The Command assured that security at the airport remained under control, adding that security agencies would continue to maintain vigilance around passengers, staff and critical airport infrastructure.
The Police further advised the public to rely on information released through official government and security channels, noting that such simulation exercises are part of broader efforts to improve Nigeria’s response to possible security emergencies.
The Anambra State Police Command has foiled a suspected kidnapping attempt and rescued a 16-year-old victim, Favour Ayogu, at Ekene Junction, along Oguta Road, Onitsha, the commercial hub of the state.
According to The PUNCH, the victim was allegedly abducted in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State by a kidnap syndicate and later abandoned when the abductors approached a security checkpoint in Onitsha after security operatives thwarted their moves.
In a statement released on Monday, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the rescue of the victim followed improved strategic joint security operations conducted on Sunday night.
Ikenga said the abductors abandoned their victim and fled after a hot chase by security operatives who had earlier suspected their movements.
According to him, the command has intensified surveillance to apprehend the suspected abductors while seeking the public’s assistance to reunite the victim with his family in Enugu State.
The statement read, “The Anambra State Police Command has intensified efforts to apprehend a suspected criminal gang following the rescue of a 16-year-old boy, Favour Ayogu, who was allegedly abducted in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State and later abandoned near a security checkpoint in Onitsha.
“The rescue followed improved strategic joint security operations conducted on the evening of September 13, 2026.
“A joint patrol team operating at Ekene Junction along Oguta Road, Onitsha, intercepted the victim after he was reportedly dropped from a black Toyota Highlander SUV by unidentified persons close to the security checkpoint.
“The swift response of the joint patrol team led to the boy’s rescue and prevented further harm. The Command has since stepped up surveillance and other intelligence-led measures to identify, trace, and arrest those responsible for the alleged abduction.
“The Anambra State Police Command appeals to members of the public, particularly residents of Igboeze South and Ibagwa-Aka in Enugu State, who may have information that could assist in locating the victim’s family, to contact the nearest Police Station or the Anambra State Police Command.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, Nnanna Ama, commended the joint patrol team for its vigilance and professionalism.
Ama further urged personnel to sustain intelligence-led patrols, strategic checkpoints and coordinated security operations across the state.
“The Command reassures residents and visitors of its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property, responding swiftly to distress situations, and ensuring that criminal elements have no safe haven in Anambra State,” the statement added.
(PUNCH)
The Delta State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on illegal firearms and violent crime across the state, with separate intelligence-led operations by the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) and Command Anti-Cult Unit (CACU) leading to the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of two pump-action guns, 18 live cartridges and other dangerous items.
The Delta State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said the latest operations, carried out in Obiaruku and Isupe Community in Ndokwa West Local Government Area, was the command’s renewed efforts to disrupt the circulation of illicit weapons believed to have the potential to fuel cultism, armed robbery and other violent crimes.
According to Edafe, the first operation, operatives of the VCRU, acted on credible intelligence, and stormed a residence in Obiaruku on September 12, 2026, following information that the occupant was allegedly in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
He said the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Joel Iwomi of Umuebu, Obiaruku, reportedly resisted the operatives’ attempt to gain access to the premises.
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The police, however, succeeded in gaining entry and subsequently conducted a search of the residence; and during the search, operatives recovered one pump-action gun and 18 live cartridges, he declared.
He said Iwomi was arrested and taken into custody, while investigation has commenced to determine the source of the firearm and ammunition and establish whether the suspect has any links with other criminal networks operating within or outside the community.
In a separate operation conducted on September 9, 2026, operatives of the CACU arrested another suspect, identified as Chukwuka Nzete, also known as “Ododo,” of Isupe Community, Ndokwa West LGA.
The police image maker said Nzete was suspected of involvement in the illegal sale and proliferation of firearms and allegedly operated a shrine where suspected criminal elements were purportedly fortified.
Following his arrest, operatives searched his residence and recovered another pump-action gun, four dagger knives, one battle axe and pots containing substances suspected to be charms.
The police spokesperson further disclosed that the suspect was also taken into custody as detectives commenced investigation aimed at determining the full extent of his alleged activities and identifying possible associates and criminal groups connected to him.
The recovery of the firearms and ammunition has heightened concerns over the availability of illicit weapons in communities, particularly against the backdrop of persistent efforts by security agencies to prevent criminal elements from acquiring arms capable of escalating violent confrontations.
The Delta Police Command said the operations formed part of its intelligence-driven strategy to identify and dismantle sources of illegal firearms before such weapons are deployed in the commission of crimes.
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