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In its ongoing efforts to strengthen alternative dispute resolution mechanisms across the country, the Supreme Court has announced that its state-of-the-art mediation centre is nearing completion, marking a significant milestone in the judicial system’s modernization.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, in her remarks at the Supreme Court’s 2024/2025 legal year ceremony in Abuja, articulated the importance of establishing a mediation centre at the court, stressing that it would play a crucial role in meeting the increasing public demand for swift and peaceful dispute resolution.In the words of the CJN, the Supreme Court is undeniably one of the most active courts in the world, largely due to a significant rise in litigation, which has resulted in a packed docket that the court is continuously working to manage.Justice Kekere-Ekun urged litigants to consider alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, emphasizing that their adoption could significantly alleviate the overwhelming pressure on the courts, allowing for more efficient justice delivery.
She said, “The culture of litigating every disagreement and appealing every lost case, no matter how trivial, contributes significantly to the backlog of pending appeals in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
“This trajectory is unsustainable for a nation striving for economic development and human capital growth.
“Educating Nigerians on the benefits of alternative dispute resolution is a collective task for all stakeholders in the justice sector.
“In this regard, concerted efforts are being made to ensure that the Supreme Court mediation centre becomes operational to make the desired impact in the new legal year.”
Speaking to the press, the Supreme Court Director of Information and Public Relations, Dr Festus Akande, said the establishment of the centre underscored the judiciary’s commitment to reducing the burden of litigation on the courts.
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He said it would help promote a more accessible, cost-effective, and timely resolution of cases, noting that the CJN was determined to have the centre up and running within the shortest possible time, adding that it would soon be operational.
“As the CJN said during the new legal year ceremony, we are putting finishing touches to the mediation centre to ensure a smooth take-off, which is expected to be very soon,” Akande said.
Designed to alleviate the court system’s caseload, the mediation centre is poised to offer a space for resolving various civil disputes, including family, commercial, and labour-related issues, through alternative methods that do not involve traditional court processes.
