The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmoud Mohammed, has set up the Judicial Ethics Committee charged with the duties of “preparations of amendments to the Judicial Code of Conduct as the need arises”.

The Committee, headed by Justice Legbo Kutigi, is also expected to “undertake the responsibility to elaborate the provisions of the Code, explain and remind judicial officers of the provisions of the Code and, generally and do all such things necessary to ensure a continuous high standard of judicial accountability and probity.

“Monitor and report on laxity by judicial officers in observance of ethical standards in the performance of judicial duties.”

Others are a former Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Iche Ndu; a former Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice E.S Bansi; President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo; a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN) and incumbent President of the NBA, Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud.

In his speech during the event, Justice Musdapher, said absence of a national judicial policy had led to a disjointed development of the judiciary.

He said, “The absence of a National Judicial Policy has resulted in a disjointed development of the judiciary.

“It is certainly time, given recent events that brings to the fore the importance of the third arm of government in the high expectation reposed in it by every Nigerian

“The National Judicial Policy provides a statement of intent that will better improve us and protect our institutions and the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary.”