5th October, 2023
Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services, DSS on Thursday confirmed that its operatives arrested former Dean of Law Faculty at the University of Calabar, Prof. Cyril Ndifon who was suspended over alleged sexual harassment of students.
The statement issued by Peter Afunaya, the spokesperson of the DSS followed reports that Ndifon was abducted by gunmen at his Akpabuyo home in Akpabuyo local government area of Cross River state.
Reports had quoted some family members of the lecturer of saying that he was abducted and whisked away to an unknown destination in the early hours of Thursday by gunmen who forced themselves into his residence.
The family sources said the gunmen broke into Ndifon’s room and dragged him into a waiting van and zoomed off to unknown destination immediately they were able to gain access to his residence.
However, DSS said the gunmen were actually its operatives who arrested Ndifon at the behest of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Afunaya said the ICPC had sought help of the Service to arrest Ndifon after he failed to honour the invitation of the Commission on the ongoing investigation of the allegations against him before his eventual arrest on Oct. 4 in Calabar following a Court Order.
“The Service, following the Commission’s request and in the spirit of interagency cooperation, supported it for a successful operation.
“This is to guide public understanding of the latest developments on the matter,” he said.
Law students of University of Calabar had in August staged a protest in front of the V.C’s office accusing Ndifon of sexual harassment, extortion and high handedness among others.
As a result, the management of the University had set up a panel to probe allegations against Ndifon.
The investigative panel last week submitted its report to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi.
Tt is believed that ICPC’s invitations to Ndifon was based on the findings in the report.