Sexual Harassment: UNICAL VC Address Media on Embattled Prof. Cyril Ndifon\’s Saga
By Onigah Joseph
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi has addressed the media on multiple allegations which recently led to the suspension of the institution\’s Faculty of Law Dean, Prof. Cyril Osim Ndifon at the Council Chamber of the University.
The Vice-Chancellor said the address has become pertinent owing to the furor the suspension generated, and to lay bare the facts as it were to checkmate the sentiments that are being expressed in some quarters and tame the falsehood peddled by some individuals in the public domain.
During the briefing, the VC said she had mixed feelings; feelings of sadness, that the institution was on the headlines globally over a seemingly ignominious issue, and on the other hand slightly glad that the institution has the glorious opportunity to set things right as it affects the works ethics and cherished values of the University hence, recounting how the incident took place.
According to her,
\”On August 14th, 2023, an event took place in our University which put the University in the spotlight and drew the most unusual attention and concern from individuals, families, groups institutions, and our alumni. Today, owing to the furor that it has generated, it has become necessary to state the facts as they were. It is the salient facts that will check the disturbing sentiments being expressed in the public domain, checkmate the falsehood being perpetrated in some quarters and stem the tide of a worrisome danger capable of grounding us as an institution.
Narrating the incident, Prof. Obi told journalists that on Thursday, August 10th, 2023 a section of the students of the Faculty of Law led by their President came to see her in her office on some certain improprieties going on in the Faculty. A formal petition was tendered. Based on the issues as contained in the petition, the management of the institution met with the senior academics of the Faculty of Law including the now-suspended dean on Monday the 14th in the Vice Chancellor\’s Conference Room.
Obi also noted that some of the issues raised by the students were not stranged to management as management had earlier met with all the academic staff of the Faculty on May 30th, this year.
Contrary to the insinuations in some sections of the media that the protest was politically motivated, the VC noted with total dismay that, while the meeting was ongoing with the staff of the Faculty, they were informed that the students were already protesting outside the Administrative block of the University.
Hence, Prof. Obi said it was then the management agreed that three of the students leaders be brought to address their grievances. After taking over the floor, the students were said to have raised several issues bothering on accountability, abuse of office, extortion, and sexual harassment which seemed to have gained more prominence than other issues in the public domain. After hearing their complaints, the Vice Chancellor said the students were requested to go back to their Faculty with the assurance that the Vice Chancellor will give their matter utmost attention.
In the light of the above, Journalists were also told that the university management has also taken some decisions to avoid the continuous overbearing influence and power of any Dean of the Faculty of Law over the students. These decisions includes, but not limited to: Setting up of a Committee to take charge of students\’ mobilization to Law School, a review and possible recall of the students\’ list sent to the Nigerian Law School, removal from office of the two examination officers, and the setting up of a Result Vetting Committee, setting up Students\’ Project Committee to assign Project supervisors to the undergraduates, setting up of Admission Committee to review Direct Entry Admissions. Setting up a Committee to update the existing Standard Operations Procedure(SOP) of the University to take care of the peculiarities of the Faculty of Law, for Senate approval. Appointment of a new Sub-Dean, and appointment of a new interim Chairman of the Faculty\’s Post Graduate School Board. Setting up a Committee to review and assign courses for the semester in compliance with the University procedure on Quality Assurance. Submission of all result scripts, questions papers, marking guides, and examination attendance lists for the past two sessions to the Director of Quality Assurance by the Dean and the Sub-Dean, and the Dean was also directed to refund all illegal monies extorted from the students under various subheads, among other decisions.
Prof. Obi also said having observed that the Dean of the Faculty was at the center of all the complaints and aberrations, he was issued with a 10-point query to be responded to within 24 hours. According to the VC, this was to enable the now-suspended Dean to refute the allegations or state why the Management should not take the allegations leveled against him by the students seriously.
Accordingly, newsmen were told that the embattled Dean of Law responded to the weighty allegations, but however the management of the Institution were not satisfied with his response hence, the Management set up a panel to conduct an investigation into the matter wherein the Dean stands suspended by the Public Service Rules.
Aside from the staff of the University that form part of the panel, the Vice-Chancellor told newsmen that the Management of the Institution has approved the request of the University Alumni, Federation of Female Lawyers, and Federal Public Complaints Commission to be part of the investigating committee.
Reacting to questions by Journalists regarding the number of students allegedly extorted by the Dean, the VC said that that can not be ascertained at the moment since management is yet to get the total names of students who paid for the illegal charges. Prof. Obi also told newsmen that the case of extortion is not peculiar to the Faculty of Law as some other Faculties have been found in such acts and refunds were made.
However, it could be recalled that the embattled Dean of Law was suspended in 2015 on allegations bordering on sexual harassment among others but was however recalled on November 2017. Reacting to this, the Vice Chancellor said Prof. Ndifon was recalled and the ban on him holding any position in the University for at least 6years was lifted on special grounds by the University Council about three years before she became Vice-Chancellor.
