The Court of Appeal has affirmed the two-year imprisonment of Prof. Cyril Osim Ndifon, former Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, for soliciting p%rnographic, ind£cent and obsc£ene photographs from a female student.
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, in its judgment in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CR/1798/2025, upheld his conviction by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on one count under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
According to a statement by ICPC Head of Media and Public Communications, Okor Odey, the offence arose from electronic communications between Ndifon and a female student while he was Dean of the faculty.
The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, found the prosecution’s evidence sufficient to establish the offence beyond reasonable doubt. Ndifon was convicted on November 17, 2025, and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on Count One and five years on Count Two, with the sentences to run concurrently and without an option of fine.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, Ndifon appealed. However, the Court of Appeal affirmed his conviction and two-year sentence on Count One.
The appellate court, however, held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction over Count Two, which involved an alleged undue advantage under Section 19 of the ICPC Act. It directed that Ndifon be prosecuted on the count before the High Court of Cross River State.
The ICPC said it is taking steps to challenge the decision on Count Two, stressing that it does not affect the affirmed conviction on Count One.
“The Commission wishes to emphasise that the appellate court’s decision on Count Two does not affect its affirmation of the conviction on Count One. The conviction for soliciting porn%graphic, ind£cent and obsc£ene photographs from a student remains affirmed by the Court of Appeal,” Odey said.
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