The panel investigating the alleged sexual harassment of female students by the suspended dean, faculty of law, University of Calabar, Prof Cyril Ndifon, has handed in its report to the vice chancellor of the institution, Prof Florence Obi.
Recall that female students of the faculty had on Monday, August 14, besieged the office of the vice chancellor protesting against the lecturer’s alleged sexual assault on them.
Consequently, the university relieved Ndifon of his position as dean and slapped suspension on him with effect from August 17, 2023, “while the matter is referred to a panel that will be set-up to investigate” the allegations.
Presenting the report, the chair of the panel, Prof. Dorothy Jacob said the panel was not biased in any way stressing that every fact was open to verification.
“We went out of our way to investigate the issues point by point. We did not rely on hearsay. We did the work objectively. We allowed all stakeholders to speak their minds. Every finding has evidence with verification. The result was not made up or cooked. Every fact here can be verified.
She commended members of her team for their cooperation, time and commitment towards the success of their mandate saying whatever she presented was a collective effort.
Responding, Obi said the report will be useful to the university as well as help it end the matter and consequently move on.
The vice chancellor assured the panel that report will be made available to the National Universities Commission (NUC) as well as the ministers of ministers of education and that of women affairs.
She also stated that members of the panel were carefully selected based on their offices, position and credibility, describing them as individuals full of capacity and integrity.
