NJC Bars DSS, Others From Making Public Allegations Against Judges

This is coming after operatives of the State Security Service (SSS), who acted on orders of President Muhammadu Buhari, raided homes of some Nigerian Judges in Rivers state about a fortnight ago.

In the new National Judicial Policy (NJP) launched in Abuja on Monday, the NJC warned that if complaints against judges or other court staff are published in the media, such will be treated as null and void by the Judiciary.

The NJP also barred Nigerian judges and other judicial workers from asking or receiving gifts from the two other arms of Nigerian government namely; the legislator and executive.

This, the NJC said is part of its efforts to curb corruption and other misconduct among judicial officers.

It warned that the judiciary will not lobby the other arms of government if any judicial worker is caught in a misconduct.

“The provision in the new policy particularly bars judges and other court staff from accepting gifts from other arms of government, and made compliance mandatory.”

Section 2(3)(2) of the new policy states: “The Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers and Code of Conduct for Court Employees, with the amendment discouraging acceptance of gifts from other arms of government, should be such as would be adequate. Compliance with their provisions shall be mandatory.

“The judiciary shall not resort to lobbying in ensuring that the legislature and the executive perform their constitutional responsibilities.

“All arms of government should respect the doctrine of Separation of Powers as enshrined in the Constitution.

“It shall be the policy of the judiciary on complaints of misconduct against judicial officers or employees of the judiciary shall not be leaked or published in the media.

“Where complaints on allegations against judicial officers and court employees are submitted for investigation, the complainant or complainants shall be made to give an undertaking not to do anything to prejudice investigation or actions that may be taken.

“The institutions of the judiciary concerned with investigation or/and implementation of decisions taken on such complaints shall be obliged to cease further action where such complaints are leaked or discussed in the media.

“Where such a leakage is occasioned after the submission of a complaint, then all investigations on the complaints shall be suspended, the leakage investigated and if such leakage is from the complainant or through other parties known to such a complainant, such a complaint should be discarded.

“Where such leakage is occasioned prior to the presentation of the complaint and the source of the leakage is found to be the complainant or through other parties known to and connected with the complainant, then such complaint shall not be accepted, upon submission, by the appropriate disciplinary body.

“On conclusion of investigation, the disciplinary bodies may allow public disclosure of their findings, subject to following the proper channels,” the policy states.