A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Prof Cyril Ndifon.
Also, his lawyer Sunny Anyanwu, who was arraigned with him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, was granted bail.
The professor and his lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, are currently standing trial on amended four counts of alleged sexual harassment and an attempt to pervert the cause of justice.
The court had on January 8 remanded the professor on the day he was arraigned.
Ndifon was then granted a temporary bail on January 10 to enable him to undergo eye surgery.
Anyanwu was joined in the amended charge filed by the ICPC on January 22 over an allegation by the prosecution counsel that he threatened the star witness of the commission on the phone while trial had commenced on the matter.
At the proceedings on January 26, the trial judge, James Omotoso, ordered the remand of Anyanwu alongside Ndifon.
Omotoso had since then declined to hear their bail applications, citing the need to protect the ICPC’s star witness.
Ruling on their bail application on Friday, Justice Omotoso granted Ndifon bail in the sum of N250m with two sureties.
He added that the two sureties must have property in the Federal Capital Territory worth at least N150m.
Omotoso stated that the suspended dean must deposit his international passport with the court.
He said, “Bail is granted to the first defendant in the sum of N250m with two sureties who own property within FCT with a minimum valuation of N150m.
“The first defendant and his two sureties must submit their bank statements. The first defendant must submit his international passport to the court.”
For Anyanwu, Omotoso granted him bail in the region of N50m with two sureties.
Justice Omotoso adjourned the matter till Monday for continuation of hearing.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
