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Appeal Court affirms 2-year jail term on UNICAL Professor convicted of s£xual harassment

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The Court of Appeal has affirmed two-year-jail sentence on Prof. Cyril Osim Ndifon, former Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, for soliciting p0rnographic, indecent and obscene photographs from a female student.

J. Okor Odey, Head, Media and Public Communications, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC revealed this in a statement on Friday, September 25.

According to the statement, the Abuja Division of Court of Appeal, in its judgment delivered in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CR/1798/2025, upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which convicted Prof Ndifon on one count charge and sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.

The conviction arose from evidence put before the trial court that Professor Ndifon, while serving as Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, solicited p0rnographic, indecent and obscene photographs from a female student through electronic communication.

The offence in Count One was prosecuted under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

Following a protracted trial, the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, found the prosecution’s evidence sufficient to establish the offence against the former Dean beyond reasonable doubt.

The trial court subsequently convicted Professor Ndifon on November 17, 2025, and sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment on Count One and five years on Count Two, without the option of a fine.

The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

Professor Ndifon, dissatisfied with the judgment, appealed to the Court of Appeal, challenging his conviction and sentence.

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The appellate court, having considered the grounds of appeal, affirmed the conviction and sentence in respect of Count One.

ICPC, in the statement noted that the affirmation by the Court of Appeal means that the conviction of Professor Ndifon on the cybercrime-related offence contained in Count One has now been sustained by the appellate court.

The case originated from allegations concerning the conduct of Prof. Ndifon towards female students while he was Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar.

During the trial, the ICPC presented evidence relating to communications between the appellant and a female student, including electronic communications which formed part of the evidence relied upon by the prosecution.

The prosecution’s case was that Professor Ndifon, by virtue of his position as Dean and the authority attached to that office, was in a position to exercise significant influence over students of the Faculty.

The allegation in count one specifically concerned the solicitation of p0rnographic, indecent and obscene photographs from a student.

In its consideration of the evidence, the Federal High Court examined the testimony of prosecution witnesses as well as the electronic evidence tendered before it. The court ultimately held that the ingredients of the offence charged under the Cybercrime Act had been established beyond reasonable doubt.

The Court of Appeal has now affirmed that finding in respect of Count One, thereby sustaining the conviction and the two-year custodial sentence imposed on Professor Ndifon for the offence

With respect to Count Two, which concerned the allegation of conferment of an undue advantage contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, the Court of Appeal took a different position on jurisdiction.

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The appellate court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the offence under the ICPC Act and consequently ordered the Respondent to commence prosecution of Professor Ndifon on the count before the High Court of Cross River State.

But Odey said the ICPC is currently taking steps to challenge this aspect of the judgment before the appropriate superior court.

According to him, the Commission considers the jurisdictional question arising from Count Two to be a matter requiring further judicial determination.

“The Commission wishes to emphasise that the appellate court’s decision on Count Two does not affect its affirmation of the conviction on Count One. The conviction for soliciting pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs from a student remains affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

“The Commission reiterates its commitment to the prosecution of corruption, abuse of office and other related offences, particularly where public or institutional authority is allegedly used to exploit persons under the authority or influence of an accused person.

“The ICPC also reaffirms its commitment to conducting its investigations and prosecutions strictly within the provisions of the law and in accordance with due process.

“The Commission respects the decisions of the courts and will continue to utilise the available legal avenues where it considers further judicial clarification necessary.

“The Commission will provide further updates on the matter as the legal process progresses,” Odey said.

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Education

NECO records 58.67% pass rate in English, Maths

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September 25, 2026

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A total of 804,948 candidates, representing 58.67 per cent of those who sat for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by the National Examinations Council, obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

The Registrar of NECO, Prof Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this on Thursday during the release of the 2026 internal examination results.

Wushishi said 1,378,048 candidates registered for the examination, comprising 682,352 male and 695,696 female candidates.

He said 1,371,992 candidates sat for the examination, comprising 678,903 males and 693,089 females.

According to him, 1,162,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent, obtained five credits and above irrespective of English Language and Mathematics.

Wushishi said 1,334 candidates with special needs also sat for the examination.

He disclosed that 1,406 candidates were involved in examination malpractice in 2026, compared with 3,878 in 2025, representing a 64.74 per cent decrease.

The registrar said the 2026 examination represented an improvement over the 2025 exercise.

Wushishi, while responding to questions from journalists, also distanced NECO from so-called miracle centres, saying the examination body had no dealings with such centres.

“NECO is not aware of miracle centres because we don’t have any business with them,” he said.

He added that NECO had only one school and could not be associated with miracle centres.

“We register centres and have criteria for which we register these centres. We don’t know miracle centres because we have only one school and we cannot be associated with miracle centres.

“If there are miracle centres, it is the state governments that established these miracle centres or they are privately owned, but NECO does not believe in miracle centres,” he said.

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Meanwhile, at an event preceding the release of the 2026 examination results, Wushishi honoured staff of the examination body at the 2025 Annual Staff Productivity Awards.

He said the awards were designed to reward workers and pupils for their hard work, dedication and performance.

The registrar stressed that banditry, kidnapping and sit-at-home orders could not stop NECO examinations.

Highlighting the council’s achievements, he cited the successful and transparent conduct of its internal examinations, prompt release of results, rancour-free promotion exercises and development of ICT software.

Wushishi said the annual awards recognised workers in zones, states and headquarters, as well as pupils who excelled in its examinations during the year.

He disclosed that 55 former workers received certificates of service for their retirement in 2025.

He noted that the awards were grouped into categories, including certificates for retirees, recognition for hardworking and dedicated staff, and prizes for the best state coordinator, best driver and top-performing pupils.

The Director-General of Student Affairs, Niger State Government, Bello Sheriff, who spoke on behalf of the state government, congratulated the recipients and charged the council to sustain its tempo of success.

Among the awardees were Akai Kuyet, who emerged best female in the SSCE category, and Felix Emenike, who emerged best male.

Others were Ezeudu Akachukwu, who emerged best male, and Ubochi Nancy, who emerged best female in the National Gifted Examination category.

Source: punchng.com

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Education

Ignore fake conference advertisement, Army College tells Nigerians

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3 days ago

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September 23, 2026

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The Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management (NACOLM), Ojo, Lagos, has warned Nigerians to disregard an online advertisement promoting a purported “Highstone Global University USA International Research Conference” allegedly scheduled to hold at the college.

The college, in a statement dated September 22, 2026, said the advertisement was false and fraudulent, stressing that it had no connection with the purported programme.

NACOLM’s Public Relations Officer, Major Innocent Audu, said, “The College has no affiliation, partnership, endorsement or involvement whatsoever with the said programme, and no such conference has been authorised to take place at the College.”

The college urged members of the public not to make payments or disclose personal information in connection with the purported conference.

“Members of the public are therefore advised to disregard the advertisement and refrain from making any payments or providing personal information in connection with the purported programme,” Audu said.

According to the statement, NACOLM remains committed to protecting the integrity of its name, facilities and official engagements.

It added that any authorised programme or event involving the college would be communicated through its recognised official channels and those of the Nigerian Army.

The college also urged the public to exercise caution and report any suspicious solicitation linked to the purported event to the appropriate authorities.

Source: punchng.com

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Education

Ondo, varsity unions reach agreement over wage dispute – Gov’s aide

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4 days ago

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September 22, 2026

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The Ondo State Government and tertiary institution unions have reached an agreement on the implementation of the new Federal Government and university unions’ wage structure and allowances.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan.

The agreement followed a series of meetings between officials of the state government, led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the leadership of labour unions in state-owned universities.

According to the statement, the unions involved in the meeting included the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, National Association of Academic Technologists, and Non-Academic Staff Union.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that academic and non-academic unions in the three Ondo State-owned universities are currently on a total and indefinite strike over unpaid allowances to members.

The statement said the meeting addressed outstanding issues relating to salary adjustments, allowances and other welfare matters affecting workers in the state-owned universities.

It added that a major resolution was the approval by Aiyedatiwa for the full domestication of the Federal Government-ASUU agreement on the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure for academic staff of state-owned universities.

According to the statement, implementation of the resolution will take into account the peculiarities of the state.

It said that during the meeting, Aiyedatiwa described education as a cardinal priority of his administration, with a promise to the unions of his commitment to sustain industrial harmony in the state’s tertiary institutions.

“Our administration will continue to prioritise the welfare of workers, especially in the education sector, because we understand that a motivated workforce is key to academic excellence.

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“We have approved the FGN-ASUU pact for our universities because we want our institutions to compete favourably and our staff to be at par with their counterparts elsewhere,” the statement read.

It said that the government would continue to engage stakeholders to ensure that the state’s tertiary institutions remained centres of excellence without incessant industrial action.

According to the statement, the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, chapter of ASUU, while speaking on behalf of the unions, commended Aiyedatiwa for approving the FGN-ASUU agreement for the state universities.

Source: punchng.com

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