As the trial of the Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Prof Cyril Ndifon continues, the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday viewed nude videos of a female diploma student, brought before the court as evidence against Ndifon.
Ndifon and his lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu are standing trial on an amended four-count charge bordering on alleged sexual harassment and attempt to perverse the cause of justice preferred against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
While Ndifon is being accused of sexual harassment, Anyanwu on his part was charged for calling one of the prosecution witnesses on her mobile telephone during the pendency of the charge against Ndifon to threaten her.
They were, however, admitted to bail on Friday after a female student, identified as TKJ (not real name) by the court, one of the alleged victims of sexual assault by the don, completed her testimony.
At the previous proceedings, the court had admitted in evidence two mobile phones seized by the anti-corruption commission from Ndifon, which were played before the court on Monday.
Trial judge, Justice James Omotosho had admitted the mobile devices; an Oppo Phone and a Tecno Pova Phone with their chargers after they were tendered by prosecution lawyer, Mr Osuobeni Akponimisingha, without any opposition from the defence counsel, Joe Agi (SAN).
Meanwhile, Bwaigu Fungo, a Forensic and intelligence Analyst with ICPC, while giving his testimony as 4th prosecution witness analysed three nude videos obtained from Ndifon’s Oppo Phone.
The PW4 said the videos were extracted from Exhibit N belonging to the professor. He said they were videos of TKJ as requested by Ndifon.
“The videos as sent by TKJ to the Exhibit N (Oppo Phone owned by Ndifon) is usually sent by the 1st defendant to another subscriber (another phone number),” the witness said.
He said though about 16 videos were extracted, three were TKJ’s videos, stressing that TKJ did the videos on September 26, 2023.
The forensic analyst also played three of the videos of other female students, but the judge directed him to limit it to videos relevant to the charge, which were TKJ’s.
When asked why Ndifon would have forwarded the videos sent to him by TKJ to another phone number, Fungo said it was to preserve the video for whatever reason.
Akponimisingha also requested for Exhibit 0 (Tecno Phone) and the witness was asked questions on some of the extractions.
While being cross examined, Agi asked Fungo if from the videos he played, TKJ did it involuntarily. The witness said: “The acts of TKJ were involuntarily done.”
He added that from their forensic report, there was a part in the videos where TKJ said she was not comfortable sending the videos.
When Agi asked him if in one of the videos, TKJ displayed a movement and was fidgeting to prove that the young lady did the videos without compulsion, Fungo simply said: “There was movement,”
Meanwhile, Omotosho had ordered the management of the Kuje Correctional Centre to allow Anyanwu access to a medical facility of his choice with a view to treating himself.
The judge gave the order after Agi moved the application to the effect. Omotosho adjourned the matter until February 14 for continuation of trial.
Alex Enumah
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