Nigerians should applaud NJC sanitisation effort – Justice Nweze

Justice Nweze made the call while responding to questions after he had spoken on the topic, “Courts and Constitutional Politics in Nigeria – Issues; Approaches; Options” at the 4th annual Prof. Alfred B. Kasunmu lecture hosted in University of Lagos (UNILAG). According to Nweze, a code of conduct for Nigerian judges was put in place in […]

Justice Nweze made the call while responding to questions after he had spoken on the topic, “Courts and Constitutional Politics in Nigeria – Issues; Approaches; Options” at the 4th annual Prof. Alfred B. Kasunmu lecture hosted in University of Lagos (UNILAG).
 According to Nweze, a code of conduct for Nigerian judges was put in place in year 2000 and between that period and now, 25 judges found culpable of misconduct have been removed.
 “Nobody is saying Nigerian judges are saints.  Nigerian judiciary has a code of conduct. And this code of conduct is based on three canons.
Nigerian judiciary will be one of the best if not the best before the end of the year because of what the NJC is doing to sanitise the judiciary.
 “Even here in Lagos, a judge of the High Court was removed because he was exchanging banters with lawyers in the court. Another was also removed because he was exchanging sms with a counsel when a case was ongoing.
 “The code of conduct came in 2000 and not less than 25 judges have been removed. This is not easy to do but we must appreciate and applaud the NJC for what it is currently doing,” Nweze said.
 Speaking on the guest lecturer address, the honouree, Prof. Kasunmu said issues raised are very important for the development of Nigerian governance and judiciary.
 “Issues discussed by the lecturer are very topical. He has succeeded in charging the court in taking active rather than passive role in political developments.  He was also right in saying that in the interpretation of law, it should be done with human face,” Prof. Kasunmu said.