The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, on Thursday inaugurated the Court of Appeal Mediation Centre, as part of efforts
to enhance justice delivery in the country.
Onnoghen, at the inauguration ceremony at the headquarters
of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, expressed confidence that the innovation would
reduce the workload of judges and improve the efficiency in the country's court
system.
The CJN, who was represented by Justice Olukayode
Ariwoola enjoined judges to encourage the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution
(ADR) mechanisms in cases that are less contentious in order to decongest the
jurisprudence.
"A mediation centre, such as the one I will be
inaugurating today (yesterday), heralds a new era for court connected
Alternative Dispute Resolution or ADR in Nigeria. It is noteworthy that this
centre is proof that the Nigerian judiciary is fast becoming a legal system
able to deploy multi-model justice delivery, thereby ensuring that the wheels
of justice are speedy up to meet the demands of the citizenry," he said.
The CJN used the occasion to call on all heads of courts
to make ‘Practice Directions’ that will dissuade litigants who institute
actions without first exploring the arbitration clauses in contracts.
He also caution the management of the Court of
Appeal Mediation Centre to ensure that they develop a robust, fair and
impartial system in the selection process while ensuring that appropriate cases
are referred to it for determination.
In her remark, the President of the Court of Appeal,
Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, stated that there was the need to set up the Appeal
Court Mediation Centre in order to equip judges with the requisite skills to
grapple with the escalating commercial disputes resulting from the growth in business
activities and increased in international trade on one hand and breakdown of
relationship on the other hand.
Bulkachuwa, noted that with the inauguration of the
centre, litigation will cease to be the only method of determining appeals in
the Court of Appeal.
"Parties before the court can now choose
between litigation and mediation. This signifies an opportunity by parties as
well as their counsel to enjoy the full flavour of Order 16 of the Court of
Appeal Rules 2016.
"By the virtue of the provisions of Order 16
Court of Appeal Rules, 2016 Civil, appeals in respect of breach of contract,
liquidated money demand, matrimonial causes, child custody, parental actions,
inheritance, chieftaincy and personal actions in offence are eligible for
reference to the Court of Appeal Mediation Centre at any time before an appeal
is set for hearing," she said.
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