Ethical codes established to ensure that journalism in Nigeria is professional and accountable to citizens are still meant to prevent unethical practices that have made the media untrustworthy. This paper evaluates the trends of unethical conduct among journalists and determines the dangers that these actions pose to the Nigerian media sector. The study also conceptualises the ethical violations through the framework of the Social Responsibility Theory of the Press, demonstrating how the media have failed to uphold their duty to society. A qualitative research design was chosen, involving a focus group discussion with six media professionals purposively selected from major media organisations in Kaduna State. The thematic analysis and coding of the data revealed that the most prevalent violations include sensationalism, plagiarism, spreading false and unconfirmed information, seeking gratification, and creating news. The results also suggest that the practices lead to the loss of public confidence, prejudiced coverage, misinformation, diminished professional standards, and make journalists more vulnerable. The research finds that ethical transgressions pose a major challenge to the integrity and viability of journalism in Nigeria; it suggests that regulations should be tightened, more professionals should be educated on ethics, and media practitioners should be constantly engaged in professional training.