Appeal Court begins Alternative Dispute Resolution system

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Court of Appeal, Abuja, has formally commenced the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system to
ensure speedy and efficient dispensation of justice.
The initiative will also promote amicable alternative to the adversarial justice system to meet the challenges of adjudication in the 21st Century.
According to President of the Appeal Court, Justice Monica Dongban -Mensem, if the challenges are met, the country will become more attractive to international trade and foreign direct investment.
In her remarks at the inaugural sitting, Mensem stated that good performance on the part of the country’s judiciary will improve employment and domestic economic growth.
Declaring the session open, she said the new system initiated in 2018, represented an innovation which, if fully utilised, will introduce a multi- track justice delivery system to the appellate level and further boost justice delivery.
“This is a seminal day for the Court of Appeal as we formally commence the operation of the Court of Appeal Mediation Scheme, which is arguably the first of its kind in the West African sub region.
“This innovative Centre was opened in 2018 as a way of ensuring speedy and efficient dispensation of justice, while promoting an amicable alternative to our adversarial justice system.
“It also represents an innovation that, if fully utilised, can introduce a multi-track justice dclivety system to our appellate level and further boost justice delivery immeasurably.’’
The Appeal Court President commended Justices Williams Daudu, Sotonye Denton-West and Philomena Ekpe for their commitment to the success of the center and Dr. Kehinde Aina for making the establishment of the center a reality.
Also speaking at the event, a business mogul, Chief Ned Nwoko, described the ADR as a right step in the right direction and appealed to Nigerians to imbibe the new justice dispensation system.