The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has upheld the two-year imprisonment of Professor Cyril Osim Ndifon, former Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, September 25, 2026. Ndifon was convicted for soliciting pornographic, indecent, and obscene photographs from a female student.
According to the ICPC, the appellate court delivered its judgment on September 18, 2026, in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CR/1798/2025. The court affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Count One of the charge. Ndifon was convicted under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015. The ICPC presented evidence of electronic communications between Ndifon and a female student.
The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, had convicted Ndifon on November 17, 2025. The court sentenced him to two years' imprisonment without an option of a fine on Count One. Ndifon was also sentenced to five years' imprisonment on Count Two, with both sentences to run concurrently. However, Ndifon appealed the conviction and sentences.
The Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction and two-year custodial sentence on Count One. However, the appellate court set aside the proceedings relating to Count Two. The court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the offence under the ICPC Act. The court directed that Ndifon be prosecuted on the count before the High Court of Cross River State.
The ICPC said it was taking steps to challenge the decision on Count Two before the appropriate superior court. The Commission stressed that the decision on Count Two did not affect the appellate court's affirmation of Ndifon's conviction on Count One. The ICPC will continue to prosecute cases involving alleged corruption, abuse of office, and related offences.
The case arose from allegations concerning Ndifon's conduct towards female students while he was Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar. The ICPC's evidence at trial included electronic communications that supported the allegation that Ndifon solicited indecent photographs from a student.
The ICPC emphasized its commitment to prosecuting cases involving corruption, particularly where institutional authority is allegedly used to exploit people under an accused person's influence. The Commission's statement highlights its efforts to ensure accountability and uphold the law.
Key points
- The Court of Appeal upheld the two-year imprisonment of Professor Cyril Osim Ndifon for soliciting indecent photos from a student.
- The appellate court set aside the proceedings relating to Count Two, which alleged that Ndifon conferred an undue advantage.
- The ICPC is taking steps to challenge the decision on Count Two before the appropriate superior court.
