The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has expressed opposition to the request for the court to release the mobile phones of Professor Cyril Ndifon and Barrister Sunny Anyanwu to a purported National Computer Forensic Laboratory.

The two defendants, Ndifon and Anyanwu, are currently on trial before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged sexual misconduct and an attempt to pervert the course of justice, contrary to relevant laws.

During the recent court session on Tuesday, the defendants’ counsel, Mr. Joe Agi SAN, informed the court about two motions filed on March 8, 2024. The first motion sought leave of the court to appeal the ruling on the no case submission, while the second motion requested the court to direct its registrar to provide the defendants with exhibits N and O (their mobile phones).

Although the ICPC did not oppose the first motion seeking leave to appeal the court’s dismissal of the defendants’ No Case Submission, they contested the second motion. The ICPC’s counsel, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, argued that the alleged laboratory mentioned by the defendants did not exist and had no known address.

Dr. Akponimisingha stated, “As of now, sir, the National Computer Forensic Laboratory has not been established. If they have the address, let them provide it. To the best of my knowledge, there’s no such laboratory anywhere.”

Consequently, the ICPC requested an adjournment to allow the prosecution to respond to the motion seeking permission to release the defendants’ phones to the purported National Computer Forensic Laboratory.

Justice J.K Omotosho granted the adjournment and scheduled the next hearing for March 19, 2024, to address the pending motion on notice.