The trial of the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar, Cyril Ndifon, took a twist on Wednesday as he asked the court through his counsel, Joe Agi, (SAN), on Wednesday, to indicate that he had no case to answer in the sexual harassment charges preferred against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The professor is facing trial based on amended four counts of alleged sexual harassment and gratification.
Also joined in the matter is his lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, who was alleged to have harassed the witness urging her to shun the ICPC’s invitation.
At the court on Wednesday, Agi prayed the court to give him seven days to file his no-case submission.
A submission that there is no case to answer means that there is no evidence on which even if the court believes, it could convict.
Agi said, “My Lord, we will make a no-case submission. We ask My Lord to give us seven days for our no-case submission.”
The trial judge, James Omotoso, adjourned the matter to February 27 for the adoption of written addresses on the no-case submission.
Earlier, while being cross-examined by Agi, a forensic analyst, Fungo Bwaigu, said from the call log, he did not know what TKJ and the Prof discussed.
He added that the analysis he carried out on the mobile phone showed clearly that the first communication between TKJ and the dean through the WhatsApp channel was on March 14, 2023 and the message was “Good evening sir”.
A submission Joe Agi told the open court was false.
Fungo while being asked if he analyised TKJ’s phone told the court that he was not given her phone to analyse.
TKJ is a diploma of law graduate whose name was withheld based on the order of the court to protect her.
She had in her testimony stated that Ndifon demanded oral sex and her virginity in exchange for admission into the full LLB programme.
After his testimony, the prosecution counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha told the court that the ICPC had closed its case.
He said, “This is the case for the Prosecution and we have closed our case today.”
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