UNICAL constitutes panel to investigate allegations against dean

University of Calabar has inaugurated a seven-man panel to investigate allegations of misconduct leveled against the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Cyril Ndifon.

The panel is chaired by Prof. Dorothy Oluwagbemi-Jacob, while the Deputy Registrar, Post Graduate School, Gabriel Orok, will serve as secretary.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Florence Obi, charged the committee to be thorough and fair to all involved in the issue, adding that the integrity of the institution depends on their work.

She, however, told the panel that the institution has no vested interest in the case, and, therefore, should pursue justice. Obi further disclosed that some external bodies, who have indicated interest to participate in proceedings of the panel, have been granted observer status.

The external bodies, which will each have a representative in the panel, according to the VC, include Public Complaints Commission, Nigeria Police Gender Unit (D12), Federation of Women Lawyers, University of Calabar Alumni (National), ‘Malabor’ High Court and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA-National).

While speaking on behalf of the panel, the Chairman, Oluwagbemi-Jacobs, assured that his team will be thorough in the investigation, promising to be fair to all parties involved. He also assured that decisions taken will be based on the truth and available facts.

The Registrar of the institution, Egbe, in a memo to members of the panel, listed a 12-point terms of reference, which include rigorous investigation of sexual harassment against the suspended dean, examine the extent of result manipulations, mutilations and aberration in the conduct of examinations in the Faculty of Law from 202, as well as allegations relating to abuse of office, highhandedness, extortion and violation of extant laws of the university by the dean.

Others include checking the records of candidates mobilised to the Law School in the past two sessions and establish if they met the requirements, the allegation of students being made to pay for matriculation numbers /clearance against Senate approved payments, Direct Entry admission abnormalities, mode of course allocations to lecturers and choice of ‘supervisees’ and course representatives by the dean, as well as compliance with Senate’s decisions on faculty meetings.

The panel, according to the registrar, is expected to carry out a thorough, fair and objective investigation of these allegations and make appropriate recommendations.