ICPC to challenge court ruling in ex-UNICAL dean case

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced its intention to challenge a Court of Appeal decision regarding jurisdiction in the case of former University of Calabar Law Dean, Professor Cyril Ndifon.

Ndifon was previously convicted on November 17, 2025, and sentenced to two years of imprisonment on a single count for soliciting pornographic and indecent photographs from a female student. While the Court of Appeal affirmed this conviction, it ruled that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to preside over a second count involving the alleged conferment of undue advantage under the Corrupt Practices Act, 2000.

The appellate court has ordered a retrial for the second count to be conducted before the High Court of Cross River State. The ICPC stated that it seeks further judicial determination from a superior court regarding the jurisdictional question of the second charge, though it emphasized that the ruling does not impact the affirmed conviction for the first count.