NJC bars judges from accepting gifts, complaints against judges now to be kept from the media

As part of measures to enhance the independence of the judiciary and curb corruption, the National Judicial Council, NJC, has barred judges and other court staff from accepting gifts from other arms of government, Vanguardngr reports.
These form part of the provisions in a new National Judicial Policy, NJP, to be launched in Abuja today. The measures, seeks to merge and improve on the existing NJC NJP and a similar policy by the National Judicial Institute, NJI.

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.
The policy also introduced measures to further keep complaints against judges and other court staff from the media and public domain. Provisions in this regard are contained in section 2(2)(4) to 2(2)(9).
It states further: “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, 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.”