C’ River State Online Journalists Silent over Prof. Cyril Ndifon Rape Matter —By Joseph Odok

Joseph Odok|30 March 2016|7:00am

The silence of Cross River State Online journalists appears a compromise with those that masterminded the blackmail of Professor Cyril Ndifon.

More worrisome is the obvious silence of that Cross River State online journalists in following up with the issue of allegations of rape against Prof. Ndifon. It is on record that almost all online blogs in Cross River State celebrated the story of blackmail against Prof. Ndifon that is turning out into a mere act of defamation and a calculated set up that left so much money in the pockets of paid journalists.

Cross River Watch for instance gloried in the the defamation of Prof. Ndifon, it followed the matter up to the transfer of the matter to the Inspector General of Police falsely alleging that he was detained in the course of investigation on the order of the Inspector General of police.

More surprising is the fact that my friend Agba Jalingo personally rejected to allow my comment on the medical report that exonerated Prof. Ndifon of the allegations of rape on his wall. It makes me think that the cartel that spread the Ndifon rape case may have compromised Cross River State online journalists.

Could we infer that journalism is now commercialized? Just thinking out loud.

Joseph Odok
Is a Social Change Agent & University Don

What follows is the original post he made as published by the Sun Newspaper of March 27, 2016 page 50:

*Police Medical Report Frees Prof Ndifon of Allegation of Rape by A female Law Student Ms Ekong Nkang Sunday Sun, March 27, 2016 Page 50

Legal fireworks will soon commerce  in a suit instituted by Prof Ndifon the suspended Dean of Faculty of law who has instituted a case at the National Industrial Court, sitting in Calabar asking the court to determine the legality of the action taken against him by the University of Calabar. In Suit No. NICN/CA/01/2016 Prof Ndifon prays the court to quash the suspension order of the university to recall him promptly. Prof Ndifon filled the suit on January 12, 2016, and the matter came for mention on February 11, 2016 and then adjourned.

In a letter to the University dated January 18, 2016, counsel to Prof Ndifon, urged the university to "diligently defend the suit in the interest of justice"

The university suspended the Professor of Law and the Dean faculty of Law last year following the allegation of rape by a female Law student, Ekong Nkang, who claimed to have been raped on Saturday August 29, 2015 in Prof Ndifon's office.

Following the report made to the Airport Police Station by the female law student, Ekong Nkang. One Regina Ekanem was assigned by the police to investigate the matter. Prof Ndifon was invited for questioning, briefly detained and later released on bail. In line with the method of investigation of a rape case, the victim was referred to police clinic for medical examination.

While the police in Cross River State Police Command was still dealing with the matter, a group under the aegis of Nigerian Feminist Forum, NFF, petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase calling for transfer of the case file to Abuja, where it was learnt that Prof Ndifon and Ekong Nkang on October, 6, 2015, appeared before a special panel headed by Supol Beatrice Odey and their statements were taken afresh

After the matter was reported to the police, Ekong Nkang was sent to the police clinic at Otop Abasi, six hours after the alleged rape for examination. A copy of the report is here in attached as obtained from the police station dated August 29, 2015,showed no evidence of rape. The report states in part: "No varginal bleeding, no obvious painful distress and no skin bruises". The report further stated that there was absence of lacerations.

In the intervening period of six months as the suspension slammed on Prof Ndifon has been in force, not much has been heard about the rape case, either from the university or the police headquarters. No communication have been made to Prof Ndifon leaving him in limbo as the suspension has not been lifted, neither the outcome of the investigation revealed to him. Will Prof Ndifon leave the girl go for such a high class defamation of character or forgive the university for wrongful suspension? Only time shall tell.