Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), has filed a court case against the institution’s Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. Florence Obi, for character defamation, MUK TV has learned.
The embattled University Don, who was suspended over an accusation of a sex-for-mark scandal after the Faculty of Law female students protested on campus for his removal, alleged that the university’s VC sponsored the protest against him just because she wanted him out of the position of Dean.
In Suit No. NICN/CA/42/2023 between Prof. Cyril Ndifon (the claimant), the Vice-Chancellor, University of Calabar, and three others as defendants, Ndifon expressed displeasure over what he described as dragging his image into the mud even when he did nothing wrong.
The Leadership reports that in an originating summons from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Calabar Judicial Division Holden at Calabar, the defendants, who include the UNICAL Registrar, UNICA, L, and Prof. DDorothyOluwagbemi-Jacob, must within eight days after service of the summons on them cause an appearance to be entered to this summon.
“If the defendants do not appear within the time and at the place specified, an order will be made and proceedings taken as the judge may think just and expedient”. The summons was maintained.
In exhibit 9, emanating from an affidavit attempting to set forth the facts relied upon, the embattled Prof. of Law accused the Vice Chancellor of colluding with the LAWSAN president (UNICAL Chapter), Mr. Obi Benedict Otu, and one of the VC’s nieces, Destiny Omokiti, to stage manage a protest against him to pull him down.
“Shortly after the said protest, Mr. Obi Benedict Ot issued a press release where he revealed that he deliberately hid his intention and real purpose of protest from innocent students who were freshmen, and upon their concealment of purpose, he tendered a public apology that went viral on social media.” The affidavit maintained
“My right and freedom of movement to the University of Càlabar premises have been restricted and curtailed by order of the Vice Chancellor. I am gravely prejudiced on account thereof. Ndifon stated.
“To remove me from office as Dean of Law Faculty without any prior vote taken at a meeting of the faculty of law board for this purpose constitutes a departure from the prescriptions of the University of Calabar Act”, he said.
A clause from the right of summons sighted by Leadership reads, By exhibit 10, the panel headed by four defendants is not a Management Disciplinary Committee as established and provided for by extant regulations governing the condition of service of UNICAL staff.
“The panel lacks the locus and competence to undertake the assignment in its term of assignments.
“I am greatly prejudiced and subjected to excruciating psychological pain, trauma, and anguish on account of the above-stated acts of defendants. The right of summons is maintained.”
Reacting to the issue in a telephone conversation, Unical Public Relations Officer PRO, Mr. Effiong Eyo, stated that the university only set up a panel to investigate allegations against the embattled Dean of the Law Faculty.
“No one has found him guilty. What we did was investigate the alleged misconduct, but since he felt the court was the only option, we will be there for the hearing,” Eyo stated.
