By Chris Njoku
Prof. Florence Obi, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar on Friday disclosed that the management of the institution would not be intimidated by detractors in the investigation of alleged improper conduct against Prof. Cyril Ndifon.
Obi said this in a press conference in Calabar while reacting to an alleged viral video of the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy where the minister allegedly told one of the girls accusing Ndifon to be truthful or risk jail term.
The Vice-Chancellor stated that her administration had nothing personal against the former Dean of the Faculty of Law other than her commitment to seeing that the university achieves her vision of producing quality graduates.
“I wish to generally state that the students of the faculty of law on their own wrote and submitted a petition and protested against the suspended Dean.
“Those who have testified before the panel on both sexual harassment and other violations were not prompted by anyone; the sustained orientation of my administration in the last couple of years has created an atmosphere of confidence.
“I appreciate the enormity of the office occupied by the minister but my responsibility as VC and those of other Nigerians, no matter their office or position in life are no less important in the building of a greater Nigeria,” she said.
She noted the students who came out should rather be encouraged and the university commended for being on the right path of ensuring educational development for the girls which was key to their survival.
According to her, to demonstrate the management’s interest in ensuring unbiased investigation it accepted the request from agencies and groups such as the Public Complaint Commission, Nigeria Bar Association, and Nigeria Police among others, as observers in the panel.
She said in addition, the panel had livestream sessions on Zoom, as advertised on some national dailies, through which interested persons participate.
She urged Nigerians to be patient with the investigative panel adding that the management of the institution was focused on doing the right thing and carrying out an objective and comprehensive investigation.
She added that they were determined to lift the University of Calabar to a higher pedestal and reckoning and in the end, the successes recorded would overwhelm the noise.