University of CalabarCross River State, has suspended Law School Dean Cyril Ndifon over allegations of sexual harassment.
Law school students recently held a peaceful demonstration against Professor Ndifon, whom they accused of harassing them.
Ndifon denied the accusations. He told Newslodge that the protest was sponsored by college professors who did not like his leadership style.
Suspension
The University of Calabar on Thursday relieved Mr. Ndifon of his position as dean of the law school and also suspended him from the school through a letter from the university’s Registrar, Gabriel Egbe, according to a statement from the department of school public relations.
The statement said the university’s vice chancellor, Florence Obi, was not satisfied with Ndifon’s response to a query about the sexual harassment allegations.
“The matter is being referred to a panel that will be established to investigate the allegations against him,” the statement said.
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“You must turn over all University assets in your possession, including all official responsibilities you currently handle, to the Assistant Dean of the Faculty before leaving the position vacant.
“You must stay away from University premises, except while you are responding to the invitation of the panel investigating these allegations,” the registrar, Mr Egbe, told Mr Ndifon in the letter.
The vice-chancellor, Ms Obi, had promised the school would investigate the allegations against the law professor, but said those making the allegations were expected to produce evidence.
Newslodge could not immediately contact the professor suspended for his comment as he did not return calls from our reporter.
Mr. Ndifon was previously suspended by the school authority in 2015 after he was accused of raping a 20-year-old law student in his office, a charge the professor challenged in court.
His suspension was lifted about a year later, under unclear circumstances: Our reporters could find no evidence that the court exonerated the professor.
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