Federal High Court Grants Bail to Suspended UNICAL Dean and Lawyer

In a recent development, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar, Prof Cyril Ndifon, along with his lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu. The duo is currently facing trial on amended charges of alleged sexual harassment and an attempt to pervert the course of justice.

Prof Cyril Ndifon and Sunny Anyanwu were arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on four counts of alleged sexual harassment and an attempt to pervert the course of justice. The trial commenced earlier this year, with the professor initially remanded on January 8. However, he was granted temporary bail on January 10 to undergo eye surgery.

Anyanwu, who was later joined in the amended charge, faced allegations of threatening the star witness of the ICPC during trial proceedings. Consequently, on January 26, the trial judge, Justice James Omotoso, ordered the remand of Anyanwu alongside Prof Cyril Ndifon, refusing to entertain their bail applications to protect the ICPC’s star witness.

In a ruling issued on Friday, Justice Omotoso granted bail to Prof Cyril Ndifon in the sum of N250 million with two sureties, each owning property in the Federal Capital Territory valued at no less than N150 million. The suspended dean is also required to submit his international passport to the court.

For Sunny Anyanwu, bail was granted in the region of N50 million with two sureties. Similar to Ndifon’s bail conditions, Anyanwu and his sureties must provide bank statements, and Anyanwu must surrender his international passport.

The court has adjourned the matter till Monday for the continuation of the hearing.