Okonkwo calls for stricter judicial ethics, urges sanctions against erring judges in Nigeria

A lawyer and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has urged Nigeria’s judiciary to enforce stricter ethical standards and discipline any members found guilty of misconduct, warning that failure to act could erode public trust in the system.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, monitored by DAILY POST, Okonkwo stressed the importance of continuous training for judges, noting that the legal profession must evolve with emerging knowledge and standards.

He warned that a lack of accountability within the judiciary could normalise unethical behaviour.

“Again, there’s a need for punishment. If you do not deter any evil practice, it must repeat itself. If an abomination is allowed to last up to a year, it becomes a culture,” he said.

Okonkwo also expressed concern over what he described as increasing social interactions between judges and individuals outside the bench, cautioning that such associations could compromise judicial independence and impartiality.

“We are moving into a situation where it is becoming cultural for members of the bench to associate freely, attend parties freely, to be so associated with the members of the world that it will be difficult for their independence and impartiality to be maintained,” he added.

He maintained that every profession operates under specific ethical standards, insisting that the judiciary must not only uphold its code of conduct but also ensure that sanctions are applied to deter wrongdoing and preserve integrity within the system.