NEWS UPDATE: RIVERS STATE JUDICIARY ESTABLISHES ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION UNIT.
By: Nneka Oduada Eze (Esq)
The Chief Judge of Rivers State Judiciary, Justice Simeon Amadi has approved the establishment of an Alternative Dispute Resolution Unit in the state judiciary. He disclosed this while meeting with a delegation from Babes Bolyai University, Romanian and the University of Port Harcourt on Friday, 8th April, 2022. Also, he announced the approval for the registration of Multi-Door Court House across the local government areas of the state.
According to him, the unit is to be domiciled within the premises of the customary court of appeal in the state. Justice Amadi further stated that the move is aimed at decongesting the regular court.
This indeed is a commendable approach taken by the Chief Judge of the state. It is not in doubt that judges are being over labored with cases, and the multi door court system will reduce the number of cases that comes to the court as a subject of litigation.
Furthermore, certain matters will not be brought before the court but will be settled formally using alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in these multi door court houses, which primary function is the speedy resolution of dispute between parties. The use of alternative dispute resolution will not only save time and resources but would usher in peaceable means of conflict resolution in urban areas and local communities in the State, particularly as the alternative dispute module is designed to cover all the Local Government Areas of the State. It is hoped that the residence of the state will utilize this means of dispute resolution while exploring same in a bid to achieve maximum satisfaction in conflict resolution.