Delegates from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) made a notable presence at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday for the trial of Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).
Linda Bala led the NBA delegation into the courtroom presided over by Justice James Omotosho, while Amina Agbaje, the Country Vice President of FIDA, led a team of lawyers to observe briefs on behalf of their associations.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is prosecuting Ndifon and Sunny Anyanwu (1st and 2nd defendants) on charges related to sexual harassment and obstruction of investigation.
Anyanwu, one of the defense lawyers, was included in the amended charge filed by the ICPC on January 22, alleging that he used a mobile telephone to threaten one of the prosecution witnesses during the ongoing case against Ndifon.
On the last adjourned date, Justice Omotosho ordered the two defendants to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail applications.
Upon the resumption of the hearing, Wilberforce Otuagona, SAN, announced his appearance for Prof. Ndifon and Anyanwu. Solomon Umoh, SAN, their counsel on the last adjourned date, was also present in court.
Otuagona requested the court to hear the bail application for his clients before proceeding with the trial.
However, the judge informed him that the order was to continue the trial before entertaining the bail application, ensuring protection for the witness allegedly threatened by Anyanwu during a phone call.
Justice Omotosho explained that he had overruled himself on the last adjourned date to prioritize the bail plea, as Umoh, appearing for the defense, had pleaded with the court, despite the earlier order. He noted his experience as a prosecutor for 18 years before joining the bench.