Court grants suspended UNICAL dean, lawyer bail

Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended dean of the University of Calabar's Faculty of Law, has been granted bail by an Abuja Federal High Court.

Bail was also granted for his attorney, Sunny Anyanwu, who was also charged with a crime alongside him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

Currently on trial for four amended counts of alleged sexual harassment and attempted perversion of justice are the professor and his attorney.

Anyanwu was granted N50m bail with two sureties, while Ndifon was granted N250m bail with two sureties.
The professor was remanded by the court on January 8, the day of his arraignment.

On January 10, Ndifon was then given a provisional bail so that he could 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.
The remand of Anyanwu and Ndifon was ordered by trial judge James Omotoso during the proceedings on January 26.

Since then, Omotoso has refused to consider their bail requests, citing the need to keep the star witness for the ICPC safe.

The trial judge, Justice James Omotoso, denied their bail request on Friday, stating that the first defendants would be granted N250 million in bail, along with two sureties who own properties in the Federal Capital Territory that are valued at least N150 million.

"The bank statements of the first defendant and his two sureties are required to be submitted.

The court must receive the first defendant's international passport.

Omotoso gave Anyanwu a bail of about N50 million with two sureties.

N50 million is the bail amount granted to the second defendant The remand of Anyanwu and Ndifon was ordered by trial judge James Omotoso during the proceedings on January 26.

Since then, Omotoso has refused to consider their bail requests, citing the need to keep the star witness for the ICPC safe.

The trial judge, Justice James Omotoso, denied their bail request on Friday, stating that the first defendants would be granted N250 million in bail, along with two sureties who own properties in the Federal Capital Territory that are valued at least N150 million.

"The bank statements of the first defendant and his two sureties are required to be submitted.

The court must receive the first defendant's international passport.

Omotoso gave Anyanwu a bail of about N50 million with two sureties.

N50 million is the bail amount granted to the second defendant.
“The defendants must file an undertaking not to interfere with the case, readiness to attend trial and not to cause delay.”

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till Monday for continuation of hearing.