LMDC SUMMIT: STAKEHOLDERS REITERATE CALL FOR ENHANCED ADR

Critical stakeholders in the Judicial sector have renewed the call for an enhanced Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) framework at the recently concluded Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) First Annual Summit of Multi-Door Courthouses held at the Metropolitan Club Victoria lsland. They emphasised its crucial role in boosting investor confidence in Nigeria’s legal system and its potential to transform the nation’s approach to justice. 

Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin also spoke on the need for efficient dispute resolution in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub.

He praised the LMDC for setting a high standard and significantly improving access to justice while reducing case backlogs since its inception in 2002. The Governor commended the transformative leadership of the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem O. Alogba, and the contributions of Hon. Justice Jumoke O. Pedro, Chairman of the LMDC Governing Council.

Highlighting the role of technology in reshaping ADR, Governor Sanwo-Olu discussed the adoption of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Mediation platforms. 

He noted that these innovations reduce the time and costs associated with dispute resolution while broadening access to justice through remote and flexible settlement options.

Speaking at the summit, themed “ADR as a Panacea for Speedy Resolution of Commercial Disputes and Enhanced Access to Justice”, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun highlighted Lagos State’s pioneering efforts in judicial reforms and the adoption of ADR mechanisms.

The Chief Justice underscored the importance of ADR in a fast-paced global economy, where commercial disputes demand swift, cost-effective, and efficient resolution.

Recalling her tenure in the Lagos State Judiciary, where she contributed to case management and ADR practices, Hon. Justice Kekere-Ekun noted her involvement in establishing the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC), Africa’s first court-connected ADR centre. 

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, who was the keynote speaker, outlined ADR’s key advantages, including confidentiality, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. 

He explained that the multi-door courthouses offer a one-stop-shop for court-connected mediation services and help to streamline the dispute resolution process and reduce the burden on the court system.

The Hon. Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba, Chief Judge of Lagos State, who spoke through Hon. Justice Jumoke Pedro, emphasised the significance of ADR in addressing commercial disputes, particularly in Lagos’s dynamic business environment. He noted that ADR’s flexibility allows processes to be tailored to the unique needs of disputants, helping alleviate court backlogs and delays.

Justice Alogba further underscored ADR’s potential to foster solutions that preserve business relationships while driving growth and expansion opportunities. 

He affirmed that Lagos, as a thriving business hub, is well-positioned to benefit from ADR, assuring investors that disputes can be resolved efficiently without resorting to traditional litigation.