Connect with us


BIG STORY

“Sexual Assault”: High Court Grants Suspended UNICAL Professor N250m Bail

Published

on

A federal high court in Abuja has granted bail to Cyril Ndifon, the suspended law faculty dean at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

Ndifon was granted bail in the sum of ₦250 million with two sureties in like sum.

James Omotosho, the presiding judge, also admitted Sunny Anyanwu, a lawyer charged alongside Ndifon by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to a ₦50 million bail with two sureties.

Omotosho said the court granted them bail because the defendants made a serious case for one.

Recall that Ndifon was suspended as a UNICAL dean in August 2023 for allegedly sexually harassing some female students.

Following protests and public outcry from the student community, an investigative panel probed the allegations against him.

The panel found the professor, who has since been replaced, guilty of sexual harassment and abuse of office.

The ICPC similarly investigated the professor’s alleged gross misconduct and arrested him on October 4.

It arraigned the senior lecturer on a four-count charge bordering on sexual harassment, official corruption, and abuse of office.

On January 25, Ndifon was re-arraigned alongside Anyanwu as 1st and 2nd defendants on an amended four-count charge bordering on “alleged sexual harassment” and “attempt to pervert the course of justice”.

Anyanwu, who is one of the lawyers in the defence, was included in an amended charge filed on January 22 by the ICPC.

It was alleged that Anyanwu called one of the prosecution witnesses, during the pendency of the charge against Ndifon, to threaten her.

The court had, in previous proceedings, denied the duo bail, on the grounds that the said witness, identified as TKJ by the court, must be allowed to give her evidence before their bail hearing.

TKJ, a female UNICAL student, testified on Wednesday and was cross-examined by Joe Agi, a defence lawyer.

Bail Conditions

Delivering his ruling on Ndifon’s bail application, Omotosho admitted him to a N250 million bail with two sureties.

The judge held that the two sureties, who must be owners of landed property in Abuja with registered titles and a minimum valuation of ₦150 million, must submit their certified bank statements to the registrar of the court.

He also directed Ndifon to submit his international 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 trial, and not delay the trial.

Also ruling on Anyanwu’s bail plea, Omotosho, who granted him a N50 million bail with two sureties, held that one of the sureties must have a property in Abuja, but not with a registered title.

The judge directed the sureties to file their bank statements and ordered Anyanwu to sign an undertaking not to interfere with the trial.

He said the court exercised discretion in favour of the defendants due to the nature of the offence and on health grounds.

 

Credit: The Cable.

Omotosho also ordered an accelerated hearing of the matter.

BIG STORY

Security: Army Foils Kidnap Attempt, Rescue Six Victims In Taraba

Published

on

Troops from the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke successfully thwarted a “kidnap attempt” and “rescued six victims” along the Wukari-Kente road in the Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The operation, conducted on April 27, 2025, was initiated following “a distress call from the Executive Chairman of Wukari LGA alerting security forces to an attack on travellers in the area.”

“Troops stationed at the Forward Operating Base Wukari were swiftly mobilised to the scene.”

This information was conveyed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade, Captain Olubodunde Oni.

“Responding swiftly, the troops launched a prompt rescue operation to the area and rescued the victims unhurt,” the statement read.

Upon arriving at the location, “troops found a white Toyota Hilux vehicle with a flat tyre abandoned by the roadside.”

“Shortly after, six individuals emerged from the nearby bush, unharmed, and identified themselves as the occupants of the vehicle,” the army said.

The victims recounted that they “were travelling from Yola to Lafia when gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers or armed robbers, ambushed them from the rear.” They “abandoned their vehicle and fled into the bush for safety.”

After confirming the area was secure, “the soldiers assisted in replacing the damaged tyre and escorted the travellers until they were safely back on their journey.”

Commander of the 6 Brigade, Brigadier General Kingsley Uwa, “lauded the troops for their swift response and professionalism.” He “reiterated the brigade’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Taraba State.”

Brig. Gen. Uwa also “urged residents to support security efforts by providing timely and credible intelligence.”

“We remain resolute in our mission to ensure peace and security across Taraba State and its environs,” he assured.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

JUST IN: My Defection From PDP Imminent, Governor Eno Declares

Published

on

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has “given hint of his possible defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC),” noting that the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “was like a spoilt plane and may no longer has the capacity to take him to the next destination from 2027.”

Speaking against the backdrop of recent gale of defections from the PDP with the latest being the Delta State governor Sheriff Oborewori, who moved with several supporters to the APC, Pastor Eno hinted that “the heavily fragmented PDP may soon grind to a halt.”

Addressing a mammoth crowd that thronged the Town Square meeting of the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency on Tuesday at the QIC Central School, Ikot Akpankuk, headquarters of Ukanafun local government area, the governor disclosed that “he might join the fray soon as the crucial 2027 election year inches closer.”

“If you wanted to travel with Ibom Airline, and on the verge of taking off, it developed a fault that won’t enable it to fly, won’t you board the next available plane to take you to your destination?” Eno queried.

However, the governor, who enjoined the people to remain steadfast in support of his administration in its quest to deliver on its campaign promises, doled out empowerment succour to over 400 people, including business grants, cars and other freebies.

154 constituents benefited from the Traders Grant, 116 received Farmers Grant, four got N5 million each for the MSME Grant, and 131 were beneficiaries of the Equipment Support Initiative.

He, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the resources at their disposal, warning beneficiaries to desist from deploying it to ponzi schemes or any other unintended purposes.

He said: “We need to meet with the people from time to time to see them. It’s not only during elections that we should come to see our people. We also have to come and see you in the course of governance, to check your wellbeing, to listen to you, tell you what we have done, and what we are planning to do.

This is the fourth federal constituency we have visited, we have six more to go and we will finish all in time for the budget department to capture the needs in the 2026 budget.

“We will go through your requests and tell you the ones we have decided to do, based on available funds. We might not be able to do all, but whatever is left we will add to subsequent budgets.

“We will always work with the people because this government is of the people, for the people, and by the people,” he stated.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Court Orders EFCC To Release Aisha Achimugu Within 24 Hours

Published

on

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has instructed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release socialite and businesswoman, Aisha Achimugu, within a 24-hour timeframe.

Justice Ekwo further directed that the involved parties must report back to the court on May 2nd to provide an update on the compliance with his order.

Previously, on Monday, Justice Ekwo had mandated Achimugu to present herself to the anti-graft agency concerning an ongoing investigation related to money laundering and other alleged offenses.

Justice Ekwo also stipulated that following her appearance at the EFCC office, the anti-graft agency was required to return with her to the court on Wednesday, April 30th, for a progress report.

It is worth noting that the EFCC apprehended Achimugu at 5 am on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The EFCC is currently investigating Achimugu regarding allegations of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretenses, money laundering, corruption, and possessing properties reasonably suspected of being unlawfully acquired.

While she had been arrested and interrogated by the EFCC previously, she was granted administrative bail by the commission.

However, the EFCC claimed that she violated her bail conditions and subsequently declared Achimugu wanted.

Continue Reading



 

Join Us On Facebook

Most Popular