Decongestion
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, March 20, 2018 (NAN) The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola, says the commencement of the Multi-Door Court initiative in the state will reduce congestion in the High and Magistrate Courts.
Abimbola stated this on Tuesday at the inauguration of the Multi-Door Court in the state by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi.
The Chief Judge said that with the recourse to alternative resolution mechanism, litigants would now have opportunity to settle their disputes through mediation, conciliation, negotiation and arbitration.
“The multi-door court would lead to early neutral evaluation and settlement.
“A new dawn has begun in the administration of justice in Oyo State with the launching of this Multi-Door Court.
“We shall use it to ease the task of justice system and make do all the enablement offered us to enhance and bear on justice delivery in the state.
“We shall partner with Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG) and the Alternative Dispute Regulation (ADR) society to ensure success in the adoption and use of this alternative,’’ Abimbola said.
He expressed gratitude to the governor for providing funds to re-position the judiciary in the state in order to meet the challenges of justice delivery.
Ajimobi, in his remarks, had said the establishment of the court would serve as an alternative dispute resolution door for easier access to justice and decongestion of court dockets.
“The effort is to provide a credible alternative, that is, a constitutional route toward dispute resolution and attainment of justice.
“This effort will sustain societal harmony, preserve communal/family ties, protect commercial relationships and uphold our common bonds,” he said.
The governor said that each of the judges in the High Court currently carries a case load of between 300 and 400..
“I am informed that 306 new civil cases have been filed by the disputants before the Oyo State High Court and 173 Criminal cases filed by the Ministry of Justice and the Police, “he said.
Ajimobi stated that the establishment of Multi-Door Court was to further reposition the state as a business destination where dispute resolution structures would be an attraction for more business.(NAN)
SYS/FF/OJO
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(Edited by Fela Fashoro/Mufutau Ojo)