Representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) observed the trial of Professor Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday.
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 her team of lawyers to watch briefs for their associations.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is prosecuting Ndifon and Sunny Anyanwu (first and second defendants) on charges of sexual harassment and obstruction of investigation.
Anyanwu, one of the defense lawyers, was added to the amended charge filed on January 22 by the ICPC for allegedly calling one of the prosecution witnesses on her phone and threatening her during the pendency of the case against Ndifon.
Justice Omotosho had remanded both defendants in Kuje Correctional Centre on Thursday pending the hearing of their bail applications.
Upon the resumption of the hearing, Wilberforce Otuagona, SAN, announced his appearance for both Professor Ndifon and Anyanwu, although Solomon Umoh, SAN, their counsel from the previous adjourned date, was also present.
Otuagona requested the court to hear his clients’ bail applications before continuing the trial.
However, Justice Omotosho stated that the order was to proceed with the trial before considering the bail application. He explained that this was to ensure the protection of the witness allegedly called by Anyanwu.
Justice Omotosho acknowledged that he had overruled his previous order to take the bail plea first at the last hearing, after Umoh had pleaded with the court despite the earlier order. He cited his 18 years of experience as a prosecutor before becoming a judge.
Emphasising the need to protect all parties, Justice Omotosho assured everyone that justice would be served.
Both Otuagona and the ICPC’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, agreed with the court’s decision to hear from the witness before the bail plea.
Justice Omotosho then adjourned the matter until the afternoon to address other cases scheduled for that day.
NAN reports that Ndifon was re-arraigned alongside Anyanwu on January 25 on an amended four-count charge related to alleged sexual harassment and attempts to pervert the course of justice.
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