Cyril Ndifon: UNICAL sets up panel to investigate alleged sexual harassment, abuse of office 

The University of Calabar (UNICAL), has set up an investigation panel that will look into student’s allegations on issues bordering on sexual harassment, lack of accountability and abuse of office by the Dean, Faculty of Law, Prof Cyril Ndifon,

This was made known when the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University addressed newsmen in Calabar on Monday. 

The VC hinted that aside from the few staff of the University that will form the panel, Management has acceded to the request of UNICAL Alumni, Federation of Female Lawyers, Federal Public Complaints Commission to be part of it, stressing that their involvement speaks volumes of the management understanding and willingness to partner with them to get it right.

“Management, after observing that the Dean of the Faculty was at the Centre of all the complaints and aberrations, issued the Dean with a 10-point query to be responded to within 24 hours. This was to give him a good opportunity to effectively refute the allegations or state why Management should not take the allegations of the students seriously. When he responded, his submissions in the eyes of Management were thoroughly weak and not convincing. 

“Management was left with no other option than to set up a panel to conduct investigation. It is obvious that the Dean cannot be in office while the investigation is on, hence going by the Public Service Rules, he has been placed on suspension to allow a free investigation.”

She noted that management has resolved with the staff on the need for some basic changes to be effected, to avoid continuous overbearing influence and power of any Dean of Faculty of Law over the students. 

According to her, some of the immediate actions taken were: “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 Law School. Removal from office of the two examination officers and the setting up of a ResultVetting 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 of a Committee to update the existing Standard Operations Procedure(SOP) of the University to take care of the peculiarities of the Faculty of Law. Appointment of a new Sub-Dean. 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 compliancewith the University procedure on Quality Assurance.

“The Dean and the Sub-Dean were directed to submit all the result scripts, questions papers, marking guides and examination attendance lists for the past two sessions to the Director of Quality Assurance. The Dean (Ndifon) to refund all illegal monies extorted from the students under various sub-heads, among other decisions,” she added. 

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