On Wednesday the representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, on Wednesday, stormed the Federal High Court, Abuja for the trial of Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, UNICAL.
As the NBA delegation entered the courtroom chaired by Justice James Omotosho, Linda Bala led the team of other lawyers to review briefs on behalf of their associations. Amina Agbaje is the Country Vice President of FIDA.
According to reports, Ndifon and Sunny Anyanwu, the first and second defendants, are being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for charges that include sexual harassment and obstruction of inquiry.
One of the defense attorneys, Anyanwu, was added to the amended charge that the ICPC filed on January 22 in response to the accusation that, while the case against Ndifon was pending, he threatened a prosecution witness over her cell phone.
The two suspects were remanded in Kuje Correctional Center on Thursday by Judge Omotosho, pending the outcome of their bail applications.
Upon resumed hearing, Wilberforce Otuagona, SAN, announced an appearance for Prof. Ndifon and Anyanwu, though Solomon Umoh, SAN, their counsel on the last adjourned date, was also in court.
Otuagona urged the court to hear the bail application of his clients before trial continuation.
But the judge told him that the order was to take the trial before the bail application.
He said this was to ensure protection for the witness, who was alleged to have been called on the phone by Anyanwu.
Justice Omotosho said he overruled himself on the last adjourned date to take the bail plea first after Umoh, who appeared for the defence, pleaded with the court, despite the earlier court order.
He said he was in practice as a prosecutor for 18 years before joining the bench.
