UNICAL considers recalling Law School student lists amid allegations against Professor

The University of Calabar’s administration is considering the possibility of reviewing and revisiting the student lists that were forwarded to the Nigerian Law School over the last two years. This potential action comes in response to serious allegations that Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the former dean of the university’s Faculty of Law, who was suspended recently due to accusations of sexual misconduct, had manipulated these lists by displaying favoritism towards female students with whom he allegedly had inappropriate relations.

Prof. Florence Obi, the Vice Chancellor of the University, addressed the press regarding the multiple media reports that surfaced last week, which centered around accusations that Ndifon had engaged in sexual misconduct with female students and had a pattern of disregarding proper protocols. According to Prof. Obi, qualified students were reportedly favored by Ndifon only if they acquiesced to his improper advances.

In response to this scandal, there were public protests by female law undergraduates demanding the removal of Prof. Ndifon due to allegations of repeated instances of sexual misconduct.

The Vice Chancellor acknowledged that, in light of the overwhelming allegations against the dean—ranging from highhandedness, sexual assaults, and domineering behavior to sidelining other key faculty members—the Faculty of Law needed substantial reform. Prof. Obi expressed that it was necessary to implement significant changes within the faculty to prevent any dean from wielding undue influence and authority over students.

In addition to these reforms, the administration outlined various other actions to be taken, including:

1. Establishment of a committee responsible for overseeing student mobilization to the Law School.
2. Evaluation and potential revision of the student lists sent to the Law School.
3. Removal from office of both examination officers.
4. Formation of a Result Vetting Committee.
5. Creation of a Students’ Project Committee to assign project supervisors to undergraduates.
6. Setting up an Admission Committee to review Direct Entry admissions.
7. Formation of a committee to update the existing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the university to align with the unique requirements of the Faculty of Law, pending Senate approval.
8. Appointment of a new sub-dean.
9. Consideration of a new interim chairman for the Faculty’s Post-Graduate School Board.
10. Formation of a committee to review and allocate courses for the semester in accordance with university Quality Assurance procedures.

Additionally, the university authorities instructed the dean and sub-dean to submit all result scripts, question papers, marking guides, and examination attendance lists from the past two sessions to the Director of Quality Assurance. Furthermore, a panel is being established to investigate alleged extortions reportedly committed by Ndifon. If found guilty, Ndifon will be required to reimburse all illicit funds obtained from students under various pretexts.