THE Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has apologized for threatening female students who accused Cyril Ndifon, a professor at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), of sexual harassment.
In a viral video, the minister threatened students with terrible repercussions, including imprisonment, if they continued to pursue the sexual harassment case against Ndifon, who had been suspended as dean of the Faculty of Law.
According to the video, the minister stated that because the female students admitted they were not raped, they were not sexually harassed.
Her remarks were immediately with swift backlash.
In a statement yesterday, she emphasised her “unwavering dedication to upholding due diligence and the rule of law, recognising that justice and fairness are the fundamental principles upon which equitable societies are built.”
She said, “This declaration comes in response to recent public discussions and reactions by concerned Nigerians regarding the unfolding situation at the University of Calabar, involving the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof Cyril Ndifon, and sexual harassment allegations levelled against him.
“I wish to express my sincere apologies to those who were offended by my comments and actions regarding the sexual harassment scandal at the University of Calabar. This is extremely regrettable as my intentions were sincere and aligned with my consistent advocacy for the welfare of Nigerian women and the pursuit of justice.
“I stand for all Nigerian women and I stand for justice, and it is my hope that we can work together to actualise the dream of a country where women’s rights are respected and protected, and where our daughters feel safe in institutions of learning.”
