National Judicial Council prohibits judges from collecting gifts

The National Judicial Council, NJC, has barred judges and other court staff from accepting gifts from other arms of government.

These form part of the provisions in a new National Judicial Policy, NJP, to be launched in Abuja today by the NJC. The existing Code of Conduct for judicial officers provides that:

"A judge and members of his/her family shall neither ask for nor accept any gift, bequest, favour, or loan on account of anything done or omitted to be done by him in the discharge of his duties. 

According to Vanguard,  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.”