ADVANCING JUDICIAL ETHICS AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

Abstract

Code of Conduct refers to those qualities and behaviours expected of a person saddled with certain responsibilities, the absence and falling short of such standards ordinarily should attract sanctions. The Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria published by the National Judicial Council and which came into force in February 2016 refers to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers as “that standard of conduct which a Judicial Officer is obliged to observe” and that it is “the minimum standard of conduct to be observed by each and every Judicial Officer as defined in the Code”. This paper deploys the doctrinal methodology of research to discuss ethical standards of behaviour expected of Judicial Officers. The paper equally interrogates the role of judicial officers in advancing human rights, and that human rights can be defended and protected by fit and proper judges who live by the dictates of the Code of Conduct for Judicial officers in Nigeria. Additionally, the paper finds that the provisions of the Code are appropriate in terms of spelling out ethical standards of behaviour for judicial officers and also makes recommendations by enjoining judges to abide by the dictates of the Code.