Calabar - August 18 - (Mediaage NG News) – A high ranking university professor has been suspended, after last Monday’s protest by not less than 30 female students of the University of Calabar accused him of sexual harassment.
They held up placards detailing graphic accusations against the academic. One placard read: “Stop grabbing us. The faculty of law is not a brothel”.
Mr.Cyril Ndifon has however, denied the allegations, according to some local newspapers.
“This won’t work, he said.
“Colleagues of mine who are bent on tarnishing my reputation just to destroy me. The question is, ‘Where are the victims of sexual harassment?’” he told the CrossRiverWatch news site.
However, investigations have begun and it may see the professor losing his job.
Dr Tony Eyang, the dean of students’ affairs at the university, confirmed to the BBC that investigations began after the protest.
“This is an event that has taken the authorities by surprise”, he said.
Unsatisfied with a written response from Prof Ndifon, the university’s Vice-Chancellor has suspended him from his post as Dean of Faculty of Law. It has been referred to an official investigative panel.
Protests against sexual harassment are rare on Nigerian university campuses
Last year, the Nigerian National Assembly passed a bill that criminalises sexual harassment by lecturers, with offenders facing up to 14 years in jail.
It does not also allow mutual consent as a defence in the prosecution of sexual harassment cases at universities.