We received with utter consternation the news of the alleged sexual harassment and assault by the Dean of the Faculty of Law Prof. Cyril Ndifon on the Female Law Students of the University of Calabar in Cross Rivers State leading to their protest demanding that he must go for restoration of their sanity and dignity.
Sexual Harassment is illegal, unconstitutional and criminal and must be condemned in its entirety. AWLA condemns the act utterly.
We at African Women Lawyers Association add our voices to this call. We hereby call upon the Inspector General of Police to immediately wade into this and ensure a proper investigation into this allegation and prosecution if found culpable.
It is time to end this terror unleashed on Nigerian girls on Campus. AWLA is set to ensure these young girls get justice. To imagine that a Professor with the antecedent of sexually harassing students could be appointed a Dean is most worrisome as he had been accused of similar acts in the past.
We call on the relevant Authorities to look into this and ensure that such randy lecturers are weeded out of the University system early in order not to endanger the female students.
A University is a place of learning and inculcating morals, integrity and Character. The thought of such morally bankrupt and or deranged persons in a learning environment is toxic and must be weeded out fast.
We therefore call on the University to immediately suspend the Professor pending the investigations.
We also seize this opportunity to warn any institution of learning that condones such terror on female students, as AWLA has set up a GBV Schools Monitoring Committee to look into complaints from female students from all Institutions of learning in Nigeria and would ensure such institutions are dealt with legally.
AWLA is poised to end indignity to women and girls.
Signed
Mandy Asagba Peju Oduye-Quadri
President Secretary General
President@awla.international
awlanigeria2015@gmail.com
awlainternational@gmail.com
August 25- September 1, 2023
AFRICAN WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (AWLA) in collaboration with the NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA), DUTY SOLICITORS NETWORK (DSN), NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (NHRC), LEGAL AID COUNCIL OF NIGERIA, NAPTIP, BRITISH COUNCIL- RoLAC, INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN LAWYERS (FIDA), LEGAL HUB and other stakeholders are set to provide FREE LEGAL CLINIC to the indigent, marginalised, oppressed and violated at the NBA ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE (AGC)
AWLA volunteers to provide free legal services at the upcoming NBA AGC Conference to be held at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja from the 25th of August to the 1st of September 2023 from 10am daily.
DSN will have on ground no less than 30 lawyers who will be joined by the Nigerian Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute and other Human Rights organisations in attending to the general public by providing free legal advice and services.
Citizens and residents within Abuja and environs are encouraged to visit the *Free Legal Clinic* tent at the venue of the AGC to speak to a lawyer about their legal issues and get advice on how to resolve the issues.
SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED FOR FREE INCLUDE:
Human Rights Violations, abuse of office, gender based violence and complaints of human Rights violations generally
Marriage and matrimonial disputes
Domestic Violence and Child Rights issues
Child Custody and maintenance
Contracts
Landlord and Tenant matters
Alternative Dispute Resolutions: Mediation and Reconciliation services
Starting a new business Incorporations and business registrations
Employer/Employee Disputes
Other Partner Institutions include:*
1. Juritrust Center
2. Duty Solicitors Network
3. NAPTIP Anti Trafficking Legal Hubs (Edo, Delta and Lagos)
4. IIDEA RoLAC Program
5. Legal Pool for Justice and Equity Initiative
Lawyers are welcome to register as volunteers at the venue to donate at least 1 hour of their time to provide free advice
If you are interested in making a donation in cash or kind please contact +234 803 331 4899, +234 817 121 4161 for further directions.
Lawyers should please share the eflyers on their respective community platforms
