Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar, has been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Sunny Anyanwu, his lawyer who was charged with him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, was also granted bail.
The professor and his lawyer are currently on trial on four revised counts of alleged sexual harassment and attempt to pervert the course of justice.
While Ndifon was given bail in the amount of N250 million with two sureties, Anyanwu was also awarded N50 million with two sureties.
On January 8, the court remanded the professor on the day he was arraigned.
Ndifon was subsequently granted temporary bail on January 10 to allow him to get eye surgery.
Anyanwu was named in the ICPC’s revised charge filed on January 22 in response to the prosecution counsel’s accusation that he intimidated the commission’s star witness over the phone while the trial was underway.
On January 26, trial judge James Omotoso ordered the remand of Anyanwu and Ndifon.
Omotoso had since then declined to hear their bail applications, citing the need to protect the ICPC’s star witness.
Ruling on their bail application on Friday, the trial judge, Justice James Omotoso, said,
“Bail is granted to the first defendants in the sum of N250m with two sureties who own properties within FCT with a minimum valuation of N150m.
“The first defendant and his two sureties must submit their bank statements.
“The first defendants must submit his International passport to the court.
For Anyanwu, Omotoso granted him bail in the region of N50m with two sureties.
“The second defendant is granted bail in the sum of N50m with two sureties who will submit their bank statements.
“The defendants must file an undertaking not to interfere with the case, readiness to attend trial and not to cause delay.”
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till Monday for continuation of hearing.