Appeal Court Introduces Appellate Mediation

The word lawyer is easily linked with litigation and the courts. Consequently, when one is said to be a lawyer, people are likely to relate cautiously with him or her. Perhaps because of the unique wiring of lawyers, they are often more inclined to litigate than explore alternative means of resolving disputes. In spite of the fact that a large number in the profession have been championing the win-win, value of alternative dispute resolution, most legal practitioners view it
appeal Court Introduces appellate Mediation with suspicion. This is aside from numerous court connected multi-door courthouses and mediation centres but all that is about to change with the introduction of appellate mediation at the Court of Appeal.

President of the Court, Hon. Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa during the commissioning ceremony at the Court’s headquarters in Abuja emphasized the importance and speedy nature of mediation in the administration of Justice.

“The case that involved the former Vice President of Nigeria, Late Dr. Alex Ekwueme is a locus classicus on this subject. The former Vice President was a party to a contract involving the sale of land in his capacity as chairman of an investment corporation. A dispute arose with the corporation and Estate Agents and the matter was subsequently litigated. The matter was before the Court for 17 years until the trial Court referred the matter to the Lagos Multi-Door Court house (LMDC). At the LMDC, the matter was recommended for Mediation, and the matter was successfully resolved in one day between 10:00am – 8:30pm.”

Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, (JSC) represented the Chief Justice of Nigeria (Hon. Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen at the event.