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Sexual harassment: We didn’t find any nude pictures in UNICAL lecturer’s phone – police
The police said on Friday that nothing was found in the phone of Cyril Ndifon, embattled Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Calabar, currently facing charges of sexual assault on a female student of the university.
The university don, whose case came to the fore in 2022, following a demonstration of students of the faculty, who accused him of multiple infractions, including sexual harassment of female students, has since been suspended from academic duties.
He has also pleaded not guilty of the charges, ascribing his travails to a set up by those who want his job, denying that he ever asked his accuser to send him her nude pictures.
In a case filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Babagana Musa Mingali, a police forensic analyst, told Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday that the mobile phone belonging to don was empty when he analysed it.
Babagana, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) who works in the office of the National Security Adviser, and the second Defence Witness (DW2) brought to court through a subpoena to give evidence in the case told the court that he used every method in the professional to trace the records, but found no trace in the phone.
Specifically, Ndifon, alongside his lawyer, Samuel Anyanwu, is standing trial on four counts of alleged sexual harassment, cybercrime, and attempt to pervert the course of justice, with the ICPC alleging that the don while in office, asked the female diploma student identified as TKJ to send him “pornographic, indecent, and obscene photographs of herself” through WhatsApp chats.
Anyanwu, one of the lawyers for the defence, who was joined in the amended charge filed on January 22, 2024, by the ICPC, was alleged to have called one of the prosecution witnesses on her mobile phone during the pendency of the charge against Ndifon to threaten her, charges to which they both pleaded not guilty.
Led in Evidence by Joe Agi, the Defense lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Babagana, who told the court that he joined the Nigerian Police Force in 2010 and was posted to the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in 2017, explained that he got a letter from the Court dated July 5, 2024, which came with two mobile phones, ordering a forensic analysis of the two phones belonging to Ndifon and his co-defendant, Anyanwu.
He further said that he conducted the analysis on the mobile phones at the NSA lab and wrote a report on them, dated August 8, 2024, presenting same to the court, submitting a copy of the letter and the report which were admitted as exhibits in the matter.
Explaining that his office used highly professional tools in trying to extract documents from the phone, but could not, he stated: “My lord, we used the Universal forensic extraction device, a Touch Tool and some accompanied cable 2070 and cable 100, including some external storage devices in trying to extract the data.”
Clearly stating that he did not see any naked photographs, email trails, voice recording, text messages and Conversations, the police witness told the court that people from other agencies including the ICPC were also posted to the NSA lab, where the tests were conducted.
emphasising that no relevant information was found on the two phones between January 2021 up until January 2024 as the WhatsApp applications were out of date, he said there was need to return them to the owners to update it so as to achieve the desired result.
Grilled under cross-examination by ICPC’s lawyers, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, Babagana, who said he has actively practiced forensic analysis for about five years, insisted that ICPC staff were posted to their lab though he did not their posting letter as evidence to back up his claim.
He said he knew the operatives of the police, EFCC, and the ICPC had forensic labs but stressed that he was yet to see that of the ICPC, while admitting that the same device (Touch Tool) used by his office, was also used by the ICPC in generating Exhibit H, which are the images from the mobile phone belonging to the professor.
Acknowledging that the other forensic labs could equally do same thing his office did, he also admitted that it would be possible to find something in the phones of the WhatsApp is updated in his submission to the court, which adjourned the matter till April 3 for continuation of defence.
The idea of blanket pardoning of terrorists instead of punishing them is a disservice to their victims, Christian Association of Nigerian Americans (CANAN), has said, urging the Federal Government to halt the programme which has since raised a lot of dust within the polity.
The group told reporters during a zoom meeting that reintegrating suspected terrorists into society without first putting them through the judicial process amounted to great injustice which should never be allowed to happen.
Dr James Fadel, and Banjo Olaniyan, President, and Executive Director of the body, while outlining its position on terrorism, religious freedom and security reforms, also reviewed the thinking of Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor, during the recent U.S.–Nigeria Faith Heroes Award in Washington, D.C. on the volatile security situation in Nigeria.
It said: “CANAN remains concerned about reports that some captured terrorist suspects have been reintegrated into society without transparent judicial processes.
“We respectfully urge the Federal Government to ensure that all persons accused of terrorism are handled in accordance with the rule of law. Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done. Upholding due process honours the memory of victims, strengthens public confidence in the justice system, and discourages future acts of violent extremism,” the association said.
Expressing excitement on some of the feats recorded by security operatives in recent times, the group, particularly commended them over the arrest of suspected commanders of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), saying those efforts should be followed by diligent prosecution in line with the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Hear the group: “Due process, accountability, and appropriate punishment for those found guilty are essential to justice for victims and to deterring future acts of terrorism.”
The association equally welcomed continued counterterrorism cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, saying every successful operation against terrorist groups strengthens hope for lasting peace, protects innocent lives and contributes to Nigeria’s stability and development.
On the proposed State Police, CANAN congratulated the National Assembly and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for advancing constitutional reforms to establish the new policing structure, describing it as an important step in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
It, however, urged the authorities to include credible civil society representatives in State Police oversight structures to promote transparency, accountability, public confidence and respect for human rights.
The briefing also drew attention to Pastor Adeboye’s message at the Faith Heroes Award, where he thanked the United States Government for supporting Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts but stressed that the country still faced an uphill battle against terrorism.
Recalling Adeboye’s remarks, the association quoted him as saying: “While I deeply appreciate the support of the United States Government, the mission is far from over. Innocent Nigerians continue to be killed almost daily by terrorist groups.”
CANAN said the cleric also encouraged Nigerians in the diaspora to engage U.S. policymakers on the need for stronger American support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaign.
The cleric also said: “The administration should intensify efforts to identify, investigate, and bring to justice not only those who carry out terrorist attacks but also those who sponsor, finance, and benefit from terrorism.
“Dismantling the entire network behind terrorism is indispensable if Nigeria is to bring this menace to an end.”
The association said Adeboye also appealed to Christians across the country and everyone who values religious freedom to stand together against terrorism and violent extremism.
It noted that he expressed concern over attacks on Christian communities in Northern Nigeria, pointing out that the Redeemed Christian Church of God has more than 8,000 churches across the region.
CANAN further recalled Adeboye’s reflection on a time when Christians, Muslims and adherents of traditional religions lived peacefully together and freely practised their faith, saying he described the current wave of religious violence and intolerance as a departure from those ideals.
The association said it would continue to advocate justice, religious freedom, national unity and the protection of every Nigerian, regardless of faith or ethnicity.
“For the sake of the innocent victims, the displaced, and future generations, we will not keep silent. We will continue to work with governments, faith leaders, civil society organisations, and international partners to promote peace, defend human dignity, and support communities affected by terrorism,” the association said.
Nothing outside external intervention free from direct and indirect government influences, will assuage the feelings of Adeniyi Adeyemi, controversial Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), in his current ordeal with the Federal Government
He wants President Bola Tinubu to constitute an independent, multi-stakeholder investigative panel to probe the controversy surrounding the council and the alleged N1.3 billion budget allocation.
Adeyemi, who made the request through an open letter to the President is emphatic that the current efforts by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the PFIPC scandal, would yield little positive result.
Maintaining that he did not believe the agency would come up with the true picture of what transpired, in the saga, which has seized the national space in the last three weeks, Adeyemi, said impartiality under the current framework of ICPC was almost zero.
In the letter copied to both Nigerian and global institutions, he wrote: “I commend your recent directive tasking the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with investigating the circumstances surrounding the PFIPC Scandal and ₦1.3 billion allocation inserted into the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
“This directive is a vital first step, but the structural realities of this investigation compel me to speak out of a profound desire for absolute transparency.
“Under the current framework, obtaining a truly impartial hearing presents severe structural challenges. The public narrative emanating from official channels remains heavily weighted toward my immediate arrest, effectively overshadowing the gravity of the systemic vulnerabilities and high-level involvement I have brought to light. True accountability cannot be achieved when the agency conducting the investigation answers directly to the branch of government within which the core allegations lie.
“Furthermore, I must state clearly that walking freely into custody under the current arrangement poses an immediate, existential threat to my life. I have received verified, highly reliable intelligence indicating that I am targeted for elimination the moment I surface in an unmonitored environment.
“This is not an unfounded fear. My concerns are deeply validated by the highly alarming events surrounding Mr. Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, a central intermediary in this matter.
Official reports claim Mr. Tanimola tragically died in a sudden fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Utako, Abuja. Yet, there remains a total absence of independent eyewitness or media verification of any such inferno.
“More disturbingly, under highly unclear circumstances and without the official involvement of any federal capital regulatory agency, the entire Kachi Hotel structure was swiftly invaded by unidentified armed actors and manually demolished down to the rubble days later — effectively erasing a vital physical crime scene and erasing material evidence.
“Following this calculated destruction of a key locus of this investigation, alongside multiple direct attempts on my life and the safety of my family, I am forced to communicate from a secure, undisclosed location.
“If this investigation is to command the absolute trust of the Nigerian public and the international community, it must transcend standard bureaucratic boundaries. Therefore, I respectfully urge Your Excellency to expand the scope of this inquiry by establishing an independent, multi-stakeholder investigative panel.
“To guarantee complete neutrality, this panel should comprise:
- Civil Society Organisations: Specifically Amnesty International, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and other transparency Organisations.
- The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA): To guarantee strict adherence to constitutional due process.
- Independent Media Representatives: Selected members from reputable print and broadcast institutions to ensure unfettered, transparent access to documentation.
- International Financial Observers: Representatives from the World Bank and the IMF, given that the funds in question tie directly to multilateral credit frameworks.
- Human Rights Observers: Amnesty International, to monitor compliance with international safety and legal standards.
- Diplomatic Observers: Representatives from the United Nations, United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, ECOWAS and the African Union.
- Statutory Enforcement: The ICPC and EFCC, serving as technical partners within this broader, independent coalition.
“The moment this independent, multi-stakeholder panel is constituted, I will immediately step forward to present comprehensive documentation and verifiable evidences. A system cannot credibly investigate itself when its own key actors are central to the discourse.
“By broadening this panel, you will demonstrate to the world that your administration’s commitment to anti-corruption is absolute, institutional, and above palace politics. The international community is closely watching how Nigeria handles this test of fiscal integrity and governance.
“I remain fully prepared to present the facts and cooperate entirely with a balanced, secure and independent panel.”
All is now set for the wholesome debate on President Bola Tinubu’s proposal for the creation of state police, with members of the House of Representatives, abandoning their own version of the pitch in favour of that of the executive.
The development, which was part of Tuesday’s plenary, saw the members began an accelerated hearing on the version of the legislation submitted by the President recently, leading to its speedily racing through the first and second readings to rest at the committee stage.
After the Green Chambers adopted the presidential version, effectively suspending the House’s earlier proposal, and attention shifted to the Executive-backed amendment, the document was transported to the House Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative action.
The Executive bill is expected to undergo detailed scrutiny at the committee stage, where lawmakers will examine its key provisions before it is returned to the floor for further consideration.
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