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  • How UNICAL Prof pressurised me to trade my virginity – Witness

    How UNICAL Prof pressurised me to trade my virginity – Witness

    An Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)’s star witness [names withheld], on Tuesday, stated that Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), pressurised her to trade her virginity in exchange for an admission into the institution.

    TKJ [not real name of star witness], who is the ICPC’s 2nd prosecution witness (PW2), told Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court, Abuja while being led in evidence by the commission’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha.

    She narrated that she came in contact with Ndifon during her Diploma 1 Programme through some seniir students who were posting condolence messages to the lecturer over the death of his mother.

    “So, being a student of the Faculty of Law, I decided to send my condolence messages to him. After that, he thanked me and asked what level I was and I told him I was in Diploma 1.

    “After some days, I made a post on my WhatsApp status and he asked, ‘Is this you?’ and I replied yes sir

    “He asked where I was and I told him I wasn’t in Calabar. He told me that whenever I returned, I should try and see him and I said ok,” she said.

    The PW2 said on returning to school, Ndifon called her to inquire if she was back and she answered in affirmative.

    “He asked me to see him in his office. After my lectures that day, I went to his office. When I got there, he had many visitors waiting for him. He asked that I wait for him.

    “After some hours, he dismissed his visitors and asked me to lock the door. I did as he instructed. He stood up from his seat and asked me to hug him.

    “I moved back and he asked if I was scared. I nodded my head. He said I should not be scared and that I should see him as a father. He requested for the hug again. I gave him a side hug.

    “He asked me if this was how I hug my boyfriend, I told him I don’t have a boyfriend. He asked if It was a man friend I have, and I told him I had none.

    “He held my waist and told me I don’t have to bother about admission and that he brought Diploma of Law into the faculty.

    “He said he made about 50 students transited to the LLB programme” she said.

    The witness told the court that the embattled professor again held her waist and she tried to free herself from him.

    “He told me to stop doing that and asked why was I doing like a baby. He asked if I was a virgin, and I said yes. He said am I sure? He said that it was very good.

    “He asked, ‘Can you give it (my virginity) to me? I shouted Jesus! He said I should give it to him and he told me he would give me admission. I told him I would think about it,” she said.

    According to the witness, he (Ndifon) touched my chest which is my breast area.

    “He said he never knew I was this big. While all these were going on, people would come and knock and go.

    “I asked him why does he not want to open the door, he asked me to forget it.

    “When I asked him why he was the one that gave up to 50 persons admission, he told me he was the owner of the diploma course that I should not bother myself that I will get the admission,” she added.

    TKJ, who told the court that the don also asked her to visit him on a public holiday, begged her to give him “a blow job” after confirming he was on her menstrual cycle.

    She said: “On a public holiday, he asked me to come to his office,

    “He pulled his trousers. I told him to stop and that I was on my period (menstruation). He asked won’t I give him my virginity again?

    “I said I was on my period. He put his hand inside my pad. He asked when my period would finish and asked me to sit down.

    “He brought out his manhood and asked that I give him a blow job. I told him I can’t. He said I shouldn’t embarrass him.

    “He put his manhood back inside his trousers and told me to leave his office. When I was about leaving, I begged him that I was sorry.

    “That day, I was not on my period; I just had to wear the pad because of the advances he had been making at me.

    “I went back to WhatsApp to apologise and told him I was sorry. He was my only hope for the admission, something I had looked for for years.”

    TKJ said after the incident, the suspended dean began pressurising her for nude videos.

    “He asked I make a nude video and send it to him. Before I could say anything, he ended the call.

    “Later, he called again and demanded the video. I told him that I was still a virgin and he ended the call.

    “I sent him a message on WhatsApp that I’m still very tight.

    “He told me he would give me admission that I should not worry I should send the video. After so many calls, I had to send the video to him,” she said.

    The witness said despite the sexual harassment protests on campus, the suspended dean requested more nude photographs from her.

    “He kept requesting for more. I stopped replying him for some time. He called me and asked I send another from my chin downwards.

    “The pressure from him was much. I agreed. I sent a view once he said it was deleted. This particular one from Chin was after the sexual harassment protest in UNICAL.”

    TKJ also told the court that while the University panel probe was ongoing, he came to the front of her hostel in a tinted glass car.

    She said she joined him in the car and was having a discussion when Ndifon tried to put his hand inside her trousers.

    The PW2 said that after stopping him from doing that, he brought out his manhood and forcefully put it in her mouth.

    Her words: “He tried to put his hand inside my trousers, and I removed it.

    “He said what is it again. He brought out his manhood inside the car. He said I should suck and make him happy inside the car.

    “I told him again I was in my period, and he said is it every day I was seeing my period?

    “He bent my head to suck in front of my hostel. I begged him I wasn’t feeling fine but he didn’t listen.

    “I told him I was fasting but he refused. He pushed my neck to suck it. I begged and begged but he forced it till he entered my mouth.

    “He told me sorry that I should clear my tears before leaving his car. “

    She said Ndifon later transferred N3000 into her account to treat herself after requesting for the account details

    After given her evidence, the prosecution counsel sought to tendered the N3000 bank receipt sent to the witness as evidence and it was admitted as exhibit after Ndifon’s lawyer, Joe Agi, SAN, withdrew his objection.

    Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until Feb. 7 for continuation.

    Ndifon was, on Jan. 25, re-arraigned alongside Sunny Anyanwu as 1st and 2nd defendants on an amended four-count charge bordering on alleged sexual harassment and attempt to perverse the cause of justice.

    Anyanwu, who is one of the lawyers in the defence, was joined in the amended charge filed on Jan. 22 by the ICPC on allegation that he called one of the prosecution witnesses on her mobile telephone during the pendency of the charge against Ndifon to threatened her.

  • Drama in court as lawyer tackles judge for adjourning suspended UNICAL professor’s bail plea

    Drama in court as lawyer tackles judge for adjourning suspended UNICAL professor’s bail plea

    There was a mild drama at a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, after Justice James Omotosho adjourned the hearing of a bail application of Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), until Jan. 31.

    The adjournment followed counsel for the prosecution, Osuobeni Akponimisingha’s objection that he was just being served with Ndifon’s further affidavit and would need time to study the process in the interest of fair hearing.

    The development did not go down well with Solomon Umoh, SAN, who appeared for Ndifon and Sunny Anyanwu, the co-defendant.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is prosecuting Ndifon and Anyanwu (1st and 2nd defendants) on allegations bordering on sexual harassment and threatening the star witness in the case.

    Anyanwu, who is one of the lawyers in the defence, was joined in the amended charge filed on Jan. 22 by the ICPC on allegation that he called one of the prosecution witnesses on her mobile telephone during the pendency of the charge against Ndifon to threatened her.

    Justice Omotosho had, on Thursday, ordered the two defendants to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail applications.

    The judge, who adjourned the matter until today (Friday), held that the bail request would be taken after the trial.

    When the matter was called on Friday for continuation of trial, Umoh prayed the court to allow the hearing of his clients’ bail applications before the trial but Akponimisingha opposed it, saying based on the previous day’s directive of the court, the trial should be taken first.

    The ICPC lawyer argued further that he was just being served with the latest application filed on Thursday by Umoh and that he would need time to study it whether to respond or not.

    But Umoh told the court that Akponimisingha was being economical with the truth because he was aware of the medical report attached to the application already, and that the instant application was just an adjunct.

    He said when the judge admitted Ndifon to temporary  bail on Jan. 10 to enable him go for a glaucoma surgery slated for Jan. 11, it took them about a week to perfect the bail before the professor could proceed.

    He said the latest documents attached to the bail application had been verified by the ICPC in Exhibit PF3

    “So why will the counsel seek for an adjournment?” he asked.

    Besides, Umoh argued that Akponimisingha had no right to file any other process after the one he filed “because this is the final process.”

    He insisted that bail is a constitutional right which should not be taken away from his clients, even though they had been subjected to media trial.

    “We are talking of a constitutional right of a professor of Law to liberty,” he said.

    The senior lawyer urged the court to overrule Akponimisingha and proceed to hear the bail plea.

    Umoh said in the event that his application was not granted, “we ask that the interim bail be extended because he (Ndifon) has an imminent irreversible eye defect.”

    But the anti-graft commission’s lawyer disagreed with Umoh.

    He argued that the exhibit (Exhibit PF3) that the learner silk cited that they verified was in response to the medical report dated Dec. 29, 2023, and not the one dated Jan. 19.

    He said contrary to Umoh’s claim, the commission had not verified the latest exhibit (Exhibit A).

    “We have not verified the instant exhibit dated 19th day of January, 2024. He just serves me about three minutes ago.

    “I am just seeing this document for the first time. Fair hearing demands that I be allowed to see it whether to respond to it or not.

    “That is my reserved right which cannot be taken away from me. That is why I sought an adjournment to enable me look into it,” he said.

    Ruling, Justice Omotosho said in view of the fact that the further affidavit filed on Jan. 25 by Umoh was served on Akponimisingha in the courtroom, “it is fair hearing that the lawyer be given time to respond.”

    He said since accelerated hearing had been granted in the matter, the court would give a short adjournment.

    The judge consequently adjourned the matter until Jan. 31 for hearing of the bail applications.

    But shortly after the adjournment, Umoh stood up to address the court.

    The senior lawyer, who insisted that bail is a constitutional matter, said the application he brought was in line with the constitution.

    He reminded that Ndifon did not flout the interim bail granted by the court, hence the need to admit him to bail or extend the earlier one granted him.

    “I beg in the name of God that he should be granted the bail in the terms granted him earlier,” he said.

    Responding, Justice Omotosho said the earlier bail granted was granted on the premise that there were facts before the court that Ndifon was going for a medical surgery on a scheduled date.

    He said even though they were unable to conclude on the bail application, the defendant was allowed to go on bail but did not undergo the surgery in the long run.

    He said the facts about the present application were not before the court.

    “You filed a process on Jan.  25 and you served the prosecution counsel today.

    “That process has a medical report that was not before the court and the prosecution said he needs to respond

    “I have looked at my diary and there are many cases on Monday and Tuesday.

    “Even on Wednesday, Jan. 31, I have about 19 cases but I conceded to ensure that the bail application is taken,” the judge explained politely.

    Umoh then prayed the court to take Anyanwu’s bail, saying “the bail of the 2nd defendant is independent of the 1st defendant. I will always thank you.”

    Umoh consistently addressed the court using the word, “You,” and the judge corrected him, saying “learner silk, you are 13 years as senior advocate. You don’t address the court using ‘you’.”

    “Don’t judge me with this because I am on my weakest point today,” Umoh responded.

  • Court sends suspended UNICAL professor, lawyer to Kuje Prison

    Court sends suspended UNICAL professor, lawyer to Kuje Prison

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the remand of Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), in Kuje Correctional Centre.

    Justice James Omotosho also ordered one of the lawyers of Ndifon, Mr Sunny Anyanwu, to be remanded in the correctional centre pending the hearing of their bail application.

    Justice Omotosho gave the order after Ndifon was re-arraigned alongside Anyanwu on an amended four-count charge bordering on alleged sexual harassment and attempt to perverse the cause of justice.

    According to reports, while the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is the complainant, Ndifon and Anyanwu are 1st and 2nd defendants in the amended charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/511/2023.

    In count one, Ndifon was alleged to have, between May and September 2023 while being in the employment of UNICAL as Dean of Faculty of Law, caused one Miss TKJ (not real name), a diploma student of the university, to send pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs of herself to him through his mobile telephone number: 08037066222 vide WhatsApp charts.

    The offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition & Prevention) Act 2015.

    In count three, the lawyer was alleged to have, sometime in November 2023 or thereabout, in Abuja during the pendency of the charge filed against Ndifon and on the prompting of the professor, called one of the prosecution witnesses on her mobile telephone.

    Anyanwu was alleged to have threatened her not to honour the invitation of the ICPC in respect of the criminal investigation against Ndifon, which conduct he knew was intended to perverse the cause of justice.

    The offence was said to be punishable under Section 182 of the Penal Code Cap. 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, 2006.

    Justice Omotosho had, on Jan. 10, ordered the release of Ndifon on a temporary bail to enable him go for a glaucoma surgery.

  • Court grants UNICAL professor temporary bail to undergo eye surgery

    Court grants UNICAL professor temporary bail to undergo eye surgery

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the release of Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), on temporary bail to enable him to go for glaucoma surgery.

    Justice James Omotosho made the order following an application by Ndifon’s counsel, Okon Efut, SAN, which was not opposed by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, lawyer to Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    Justice Omotosho, who said he had considered Ndifon’s oral bail application, admitted him to bail in the sum of N250 million with a surety who must swear to affidavit of means and deposit his or her travel passport with the court registry.

    The judge also ordered that the bail would take effect from today (Jan. 10) to Jan. 25 when the bail application filed by the lawyer would be heard.

    The matter was consequently adjourned until Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 for continuation of trial and hearing of bail application

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Efut had, on Monday, informed the court that Ndifon had been scheduled for the eye surgery on Thursday (Jan. 11).

    The senior lawyer passionately appealed to the court to admit his client to bail to enable him go for the operation for him to be able to stand his trial, but the court held that the bail application was not ripe for hearing.

    The embattled varsity don was ordered to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre and the matter was fixed for today.

    The development occured after the ICPC’s lawyer alleged that one of the defence lawyers, Mr Sunny Anyanwu, threatened the commission’s star witness on phone over the case.

    Justice Omotosho consequently adjourned the matter until today to hear the bail application and the affidavit of facts which Anyanwu was directed to file to give him fair hearing.

    Upon resumed hearing, Efut informed the court that he had filed a further and better affidavit to respond to ICPC’s counter affidavit to their bail application.

    He said he had also been served with Anyanwu’s affidavit of facts.

    The judge then asked of Anyanwu’s whereabouts.

    Omotosho, who wondered why Anyanwu would not have been in court, said if he had delivered the ruling based on the arguments in the last sitting, the lawyer’s name would have been mentioned and this might either affect the court decision negatively or positively.

    A lawyer stood up and informed that Anyanwu had issues with his car but was already in the court premises.

    The lawyer also confirmed that he had already filed his affidavit of facts.

    But the prosecution lawyer said he had neither seen Efut’s better and further affidavit nor seen Anyanwu’s affidavit of facts.

    “My lord, I am empty. I have not been served witb any of these applications to either respond or not. My lord the issue of service needs to be clear in the interest of justice,” he said.

    The judge then said that the bail application was not ripe for hearing.

    Efut and Anyanwu told the court that their applications were filed previous day and the bailif was mobilised For the service.

    Efut, who pleaded with the court, said he would undertake so that Ndifon could be released to him to enable him have the surgery.

    Justice Omotosho then agreed to release Ndifon to Efut with conditions.

    “I will release him to you as a SAN and attach a little condition,” he said.

    The judge, who said the matter would be given accelerated hearing, directed the ICPC to come with their witnesses in the next adjourned date.

  • UNICAL: Court remands suspended Law professor in Kuje Prison

    UNICAL: Court remands suspended Law professor in Kuje Prison

    A Federal High Court on Monday ordered that Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), charged with alleged sexual harassment be remanded in Kuje prison.

    Ndifon, who is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before Justice James Omotosho, however pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge.

    The ICPC, though its counsel, Ebenezer Shogunle, had filed the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/511/23 on Oct. 30, 2023 against Ndifon.

    In count one, the defendant was alleged to have, between June and September 2023, used his office and position to gratify himself by soliciting for nude photographs and videos from a year 2 diploma female student of the university through Whatsapp chats on his telephone number: 08037066222, contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    In count two, he was alleged to have corruptly requested for nude photographs and videos from a 400level female student of the Faculty of Law with the plan of changing her project supervisor to himself in order to guarantee favourable grades for her and offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 8(1)(a) (il) of the agency’s Act.

    in count three, he was alleged to have corruptly requested to see photographs of a 16-year-old prospective post UTME female student, as an inducement to consider her for admission into the Faculty of Law contrary to and punishable under Section 18(d) of the Act.

    Count four accused him of causing a female student to send pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs of herself to him through Whatsapp chats on his telephone number: 08037066222 between May and September 2023, contrary to and punishable under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition & Prevention) Act, 2015.

    These, Ndifon was alleged to have committed while being a public officer charged with responsibility for the certification of students as fit in learning and character as a prerequisite for the award of Bachelor’s degree in Law and admission into the Nigeria Law School.

    After the charge was read to him, the embattled lecturer pleaded not guilty to the counts.

    Ndifon’s counsel, Okon Efut, SAN, took his bail application dated Jan. 2 and filed Jan. 3.

    Efut prayed the court to admit his client to bail, particularly on health grounds.

    Besides, he informed the court that there were four other grounds why Ndifon should be granted bail.

    Speaking from the dock, Ndifon said: “My lord, I was supposed to have an eye surgery on Glaucoma.”

    Efut told the court that it was on the basis of his health condition that the magistrate court in Calabar admitted him to bail on Oct. 27, 2023, after being in detention for about 22 days.

    He said based on the medical report, the surgery was expected to be carried out on Jan. 11.

    ICPC Lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, opposed the application for bail.

    He said on receipt of the process, the commission filed a counter affidavit dated and filed Jan. 5.

    The lawyer, who alleged that one of the counsel to Ndifon threatened the commission’s star witness on phone, said they were in possession of the call logs.

    Akponimisingha argued that one of the cardinal reasons for granting bail was the assurance that a defendant would not interfer with the case.

    He further alleged that the lawyer’s name was in the bail application filed by Efut and that he was also at the court sitting.

    Justice Omotosho then asked the lawyer to come forward.

    “What is your name?” he asked.

    “Sunny Anyanwu is my name my lord,” he replied.

    The judge then asked him if he would wish to respond to the allegation by filing affidavit of facts and he responded in affirmative.

    Anyanwu, who admitted calling Tochi Kanu on phone, said the person he called was different from the names of the four witnesses in the charge and proof of evidence.

    “Tochi Kanu called me. When she called me, I was at Federal High Court here and I said I will call you later through a message.

    “It was much hours later I remembered somebody called me and put a call through.

    “At that point, there was a network issue and I was saying hello, hello and the call was cut off.

    “And that name they (ICPC) called was not in the proof of evidence. They have four witnesses,” he said.

    When the judge asked him his interest in the matter, he said Ndifon was his lecturer and that he came as counsel to defend him or support the defence.

    Justice Omotosho then asked Akponimisingha the name of the person that was alleged to have been called.

    “The name is Tochi Kanu Jane,” he said.

    The judge therefore directed Anyanwu to file his affidavit of facts for the court to decide on the issue.

    But Omotosho wondered why Ndifon had not gone for the surgery since Oct. 27, 2023, when the magistrate court granted him bail.

    Akponimisingha told the court that the medical report was served on them late and they were still verifying its genuineness.

    Justice Omotosho, who ordered Ndifon to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, adjourned the matter until Jan. 10 for hearing of the bail application and to enable Anyanwu filed the affidavit of facts.

    NAN

  • UniCal bows to pressure, forced to suspend fee hike

    UniCal bows to pressure, forced to suspend fee hike

    The Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, has directed that the new fees introduced by the institution be put on hold until further notice.

    The directive is contained in a statement issued by the university’s Registrar, Mr Gabriel Egbe, and made available to newsmen on Monday.

    The management of the institution had approved an adjustment in school fees after its emergency meeting on December 1.

    The students reacted to the development on Monday, when they embarked on a massive protest that brought academic and official activities in the institution to a halt.

    In the statement, the vice chancellor disclosed that the directive to put the new charges on hold was in reaction to the protest.

    The statement read in part: “The management of this institution is a listening administration.

    “We want to assure the students as critical stakeholders that
    appropriate arrangements have been put in place through constructive engagements with the students to resolve the matter.

    “The management, however, commends the students for the mature, reasonable and civilised manner exhibited towards resolving the matter.

    The new charges meant that freshers, returning students and final year students for non science courses were to pay N111,000, N91,500 and N114,000, respectively.

    They were also to pay N36,500, N21,500 and N21,500, respectively, as third party’s dues.

    Similarly, charges for the science courses were increased to N155,000, N125,000 and N148,000, respectively, for freshers, returning students and final year students.

    This category of students were also to pay N38,500, N21,500 and N21,500, respectively, as third party’s dues.

    Before the adjustment, an average student, depending on the department, paid N64,050 as fresher, N52,050 as final year and N49,500 as returnee.

  • UniCal suspends fee hike after students’ protest

    UniCal suspends fee hike after students’ protest

    The Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, has directed that the new fees introduced by the institution be put on hold until further notice.

    The directive is contained in a statement issued by the university’s Registrar, Mr Gabriel Egbe, and made available to newsmen on Monday.

    The management of the institution had approved an adjustment in school fees after its emergency meeting on December 1.

    The students reacted to the development on Monday, when they embarked on a massive protest that brought academic and official activities in the institution to a halt.

    In the statement, the vice chancellor disclosed that the directive to put the new charges on hold was in reaction to the protest.

    The statement read in part: “The management of this institution is a listening administration.

    “We want to assure the students as critical stakeholders that
    appropriate arrangements have been put in place through constructive engagements with the students to resolve the matter.

    “The management, however, commends the students for the mature, reasonable and civilised manner exhibited towards resolving the matter.

    According to reports, the new charges meant that freshers, returning students and final year students for non science courses were to pay N111,000, N91,500 and N114,000, respectively.

    They were also to pay N36,500, N21,500 and N21,500, respectively, as third party’s dues.

    Similarly, charges for the science courses were increased to N155,000, N125,000 and N148,000, respectively, for freshers, returning students and final year students.

    This category of students were also to pay N38,500, N21,500 and N21,500, respectively, as third party’s dues.

    Before the adjustment, an average student, depending on the department, paid N64,050 as fresher, N52,050 as final year and N49,500 as returnee.

  • School Fees Hike: Students protest at UNICAL, bear Placards

    School Fees Hike: Students protest at UNICAL, bear Placards

    The University of Calabar known as UNICAL was early Monday morning thrown into pandemonium when following students’ protest over a hundred percent increase in the university’s tuition fees for undergraduates.

    The students stormed the Malabor Square which houses the Students Union Government secretariat and from there moved to the female hostels bearing placards and chanting protest songs

    Some of the placards with various inscriptions read: “Florence Obia, UNICAL is not a private university, which one is ‘slight increment’, say no to billing”, “UNICAL VC, stop forcing girls into prostitution”, centre“this is a federal university, not a business center,” among others.

    Recall that the management of UNICAL announced an increase in the university’s tuition fees for undergraduates by over 100 percent.

    The announcement, made in a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar on Monday, said the upward review of the fees was taken at an emergency meeting of the university’s Senate on Friday.

    With the increment, freshers, returning students and final-year students for the non-science courses are expected to pay N111,000, N91,500 and N114,000, respectively.

    In addition, they are also to pay N36,500, N21,500 and N21,500, respectively, as third-party dues.

    Similarly, fees for science courses were increased to N155,000, N125,000 and N148,000, respectively for freshers, returning students and final-year students.

    In a likewise manner, they are also to pay N38,500, N21,500 and N21,500, respectively as third-party dues.

    Before the increment, tuition fees for an average student, depending on the department, was N64,050 for freshers, N52,050 for the final year and N49,500 for returning students.

    The management noted that the increment was necessitated by the current economic realities and the need to maintain the academic standard which the university was known for.

  • Protest in UNICAL as students block major roads over fees hike

    Protest in UNICAL as students block major roads over fees hike

    Students of the University of Calabar  ( UNICAL) have blocked major roads in the metropolis in protest against the hike of tuition fees by the institution by over 100 per cent.

    The management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) had over the weekend held a meeting when the decision to increase tuition fees was reached.

    According to a statement by the university’s PRO, Effiong Eyo, the upward review of the tuition fees was taken at an emergency meeting of the University Senate on Friday.

    The release stated that the implementation of the upward review takes effect from the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 academic sessions.

    By the new development, freshmen, returning students, and final-year students for the non-science courses are expected to pay N111,000, N91,500, and N114,000, respectively.

    They are also required to pay N36,500, N21,500, and N21,500, respectively, as third-party dues.

    In the same vein, students in the science courses were increased to N155,000, N125,000, and N148,000, respectively, for freshmen, returning students, and final-year students.

    Similarly, they are also to pay N38,500, N21,500, and N21,500, respectively, as third-party dues.

    Students of the institution, on Monday, took to the streets, bearing placards with various inscriptions to protest the matter, asking the management to rescind its decision.

    Some of the inscriptions include “return to the old fees, bring back our old fees, we can’t afford the new fees, UNICAL SUG, wake up,” among others.

    The students who matched around the school premises took their protest to the main gate of the school, causing traffic gridlock along Etta-Agbor and Mary Slessor roads in Calabar Municipality LGA.

    Findings showed that before the increment, tuition fees for an average student, depending on the department, were N64,050 for new comers, N52,050 for the final year, and N49,500 for returning students.

    The management argued that the increment was necessitated by the current economic realities and the need to maintain the academic standard the university is known for.

  • Why Nigerian universities can’t be autonomous – UniCal VC

    Why Nigerian universities can’t be autonomous – UniCal VC

    Prof. Florence Obi, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UniCal), says Nigerian universities cannot be financially autonomous, so long as they are not allowed to receive tuition fees from students.

    Obi said this on Thursday in Calabar when she spoke with journalists to mark her third year in office as the first female VC of the institution.

    She said that the salaries of university workers were still being paid by the government, in addition to capital grants for development.

    ‘’This is in addition to support from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for facilities.

    ‘’If the students don’t pay tuition and the universities don’t get appropriate funding from government from where would the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) come from.

    “To survive, the universities resorted to charging students some service charges like examination, medical, ICT levies and it is these subheads students pay for that are cumulatively used to run the universities.

    “We don’t get money to run the universities from government, what government gives is overhead and for a second generation university like UniCal, we get N12 million monthly, for 2023 we have only gotten it for seven months,’’ she said.

    Obi added: “Even if we get it for 12 months which I doubt, that amount is only what we use to pay for energy bill to run the university.”

    She said that there was no way universities would have been able to remit 40 per cent of their IGR to government because it was impossible.

    ‘’If students were charged N2,000 for identity cards and 40 per cent is given to government, the school can’t provide the cards.

    ‘’If that policy had sailed through, it would have been the end of public universities in Nigeria but we are happy that good counsel prevailed and President Bola Tinubu listened,’’ she said.

    The VC however, added that universities in Nigeria still needed proper funding to run effectively.

    The Federal Government had unveiled an autonomy policy for the universities where they were expected to remit 40 per cent of their IGR to government before it was eventually discarded.