Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the Nigerian chapter of Transparency International, has lauded the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for securing the conviction of Professor Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar, over charges of sexual harassment and exploitation of female students, calling it a landmark conviction.
In a statement by CISLAC Executive Director Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the organisation described the verdict as a “landmark conviction”, signalling a decisive stance against abuse of power in Nigerian academia.
“This judgment sends a strong warning that abuse of power will no longer be tolerated within our educational institutions,” Rafsanjani said. “Sexual harassment is a form of gender-based corruption, and no individual, regardless of position, should misuse their authority for personal gain.”
He maintained that the responsibility of lecturers is to maintain a duty of care, saying, “Institutions of learning must remain safe spaces for young people, especially young women who deserve dignity, respect, and protection.”
The NGO further encouraged victims and witnesses of sexual harassment to come forward just as it calls on tertiary institutions to strengthen policies and reporting mechanisms to protect students.
The organisation praised its ongoing partnership with the ICPC through sensitisation programmes and its Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC), which offers free legal guidance and forwards verified complaints to authorities for action.
Rafsanjani also lauded the 10th National Assembly’s passing of the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions Bill and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to promptly assent to the legislation.
“The bill, once enacted, will reinforce accountability and ensure offenders face the full extent of the law,” he remarked.
CISLAC pledged continued advocacy and support for survivors, championing reforms to create campuses free from intimidation and abuse.