Alternative Dispute Resolution Gets A Boost In Abuja

Justice Lawal Gummi, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Tuesday disclosed that Nigeria ranked poorly in the area of efficient formal justice systems and that lack of timely, predictable and affordable access to justice was having a negative effect on the nation’s investment drive.

The jurist spoke at the official commissioning of the International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation, Abuja, ICAMA, founded by former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN).

Speaking on the importance of the centre, Gummi noted that “on the economic angle, it is positive development that this commissioning is taking place at a time when the number of cases filed in our courts are exponentially increasing while on the other hand, government is increasing its drive to encourage investment and growth in the economy.

“Unfortunately, many developing and transition countries, including Nigeria rank poorly in the area of the efficiency of formal justice systems, causing a negative effect on the business climate because it increases risks for local and foreign investors.”

Justice Gummi observed that experience has shown that serious businesses are reluctant to put money into an economy where safety of their investment cannot be protected.

“This protection includes judicial intervention when disputes arise; obviously, most of these businesses cannot afford to join the waiting list in our courts and this is where a centre like this comes in handy.”

He noted that the centre can offer obvious benefits when properly introduced into a dispute and the process properly managed.

Some benefits which is hoped to be derived from the Centre is faster and less costly resolution of disputes, reduced formality through easier and more accessible process, more efficient dispute resolution in highly technical and specialized areas, and reduced backlog of court cases.

In his welcome address, Chief Ojo noted that he conceived the dream of the centre about ten years ago.

According to the former Justice Minister, “Precisely in the year 2002, I was privileged to be a member of an Arbitration Panel that sat over a reference between two conglomerates here in Abuja. One of the parties offered its well-appointed boardroom for the hearing. The other party promptly objected to the use of the said boardroom and we had to look for an alternative venue. To my chagrin and surprise, this proved a difficult task indeed as we soon discovered that apart from meeting rooms in hotels, there was no suitable venue for arbitration and mediation hearings in the entire Federal Capital Territory. I then said to myself that I would, God willing, fill this vacuum in due course. That was the beginning of the dream”.

He however noted that the dream was interrupted because shortly after, in 2003, he commenced his campaign for the office of the President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, which culminated in his election in 2004.

“I had promised myself that I would go back to actualising the dream after my tenure. As God would have it, the dream had to be kept in further abeyance as I was later appointed to office as AGF and Minister of Justice. Again, I promised myself that after that office, I would actualise the dream. Not so fast said fate again, as I got elected to the United Nations International Law Commission in Geneva where I resigned last year after four and half years stint to actualise the dream and devote more time to my practice,” Ojo narrated.

By Nnamdi Felix/Abuja