By Etim Bassey, Calabar
Female law students of the University of Calabar have staged a protest in the institution, accusing the Dean of Faculty of Law of the University, Prof Cyril Ndifon of frequently harassing them sexually.
The protesting students who on Monday marched around groups on the campus, chanting ‘Ndifon, go! go!’, said their are tired of the alleged immodest attitude of the varsity don.
The students displayed placards with various inscriptions, including “Ndifon Must Go!” “We’re tired of sucking dicks for marks”, “Law Girls Are Not Bonanza”, “Prof Ndifon Must Stop Grabbing our Bum Bum”.
President of the Law Students Association of Nigeria, LAWSAN, Unical branch, Comrade Benedict Otu led the students in the protest against Ndifon.
But reacting on the telephone, Prof Ndifon debunked the various allegations of high handedness and sexual harassment.
He claimed that the protest by the law students was masterminded by some persons in the faculty who had sworn to pull him down.
Ndifon claimed that the allegations from the students were barefaced lies aimed at tarnishing his image.
“Since I defeated some persons in an election that was keenly contested, to emerge as Dean of the faculty, it hasn’t been easy. I had skipped several booby traps.
“These allegations are baseless and masterminded by my detractors who had vowed to ensure that my image is dragged through the mud just because I won the faculty elections twice,” he said.
Commenting on the placards, Ndifon noted that they had sole handwriting.
“If you look at the placards you will discover that the placards have one person’s handwriting. Again how come the protesters know that we were going to hold a meeting with the Vice Chancellor if it is not the handiwork of an insider.
“We were supposed to hold a meeting with the Vice Chancellor to enable us iron out important issues troubling us in the faculty. While the meeting was on-going, we were told that some students were outside with placards, protesting against me, demanding that I should be removed,” he said.
Ndifon alleged that the LAWSAN president cajoled some students to come to the meeting venue, only to dish out placards bearing false representations against him (Ndifon).
“This won’t work. Colleagues of mine are bent on tarnishing my reputation just to destroy me. The question is where are the victims of the sexual harassment?” he queried.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Florence Obi has assured the students that the issues would be addressed.
