Court Varies Suspended UNICAL Professor’s Bail, Accepts Ndoma-Egba, Efut as Sureties

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, accepted Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba as surety for the bail earlier granted Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL).

Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling, also accepted Mr Okon Efut, SAN, as Ndifon’s second surety in the four-count charge preferred against him and his lawyer, Mr Sunny Anyanwu, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ndoma-Egba, a three-time senator, represented Cross River Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

It will be recalled that Justice Omotosho had, on Feb. 9, admitted Ndifon to bail in the sum of N250 million with two sureties in the like sum.

The judge held that the two sureties, who must be owners of landed property in the FCT with registered titles and a minimum valuation of N150 million, must submit their certified bank statements to the registrar of the court.

He also directed Ndifon to submit his international passport to the court registrar.

The judge ordered the suspended dean to sign an undertaking not to interfere with the case, be ready to stand his trial and not delay the trial.

Ndifon, through his counsel, Mr Joe Agi, SAN, had, on Feb. 27, applied that the bail conditions earlier granted him be varied because he was unable to meet the terms set by the judge.

In the motion filed, Agi sought an order varying Ndifon’s bail terms.

He also sought an order granting the application that Ndoma-Egba and Efut be admitted as his sureties.

The lawyer prayed the court to exercise its discretion in favour of his client by releasing him to the intending sureties based on recognition.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Omotosho held that since the charges against Ndifon were not capital offences, the court was inclined to exercise the discretion in his favour.

He said bail is a constitutional right guarantees for any person facing criminal charge.

The judge, who admitted Ndifon to the sum of N250 million bail, directed that the two sureties shall be Ndoma-Egba and Efut as suggested by the don.

He ordered Ndifon to deposit his international passport with the court registry and shall not be renewed until the leave of court is granted.

Justice Omotosho equally ordered the suspended professor and the two sureties to submit their bank statements to the court.

The judge, who said that the two sureties shall have landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area, adjourned the matter until March 12 for Ndifon and his co-defendant, Anyanwu, to enter their defence.

NAN reports that Ndifon was, on Jan. 25, re-arraigned alongside Anyanwu on an amended charge bordering on alleged sexual harassment and attempt to perverse the cause of justice.