We have fully deployed ADR to fast-track dispensation of justice says Bayelsa CJ

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

Justice Kate Abiri, Chief Judge of Bayelsa on Wednesday said that the state judiciary has fully harnessed the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to decongest cases and enhance the dispensation of justice.

Abiri stated this while inaugurating the governing council of the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse (BMDC) at the Bayelsa Judiciary Headquarters, Yenagoa.

According to her, BMDC is the court connected to the ADR centre of the High Court of Justice in Bayelsa.

“The idea of providing disputants with the mechanisms of resolving their issues in ways other than the adversarial adjudications via litigation and in a manner that is expeditious has caught on worldwide and spreading through the judiciary nationwide.

“Today, I am pleased to declare that the BMDC is set for a full-fledged operation, with the passing of its bill into law by the State House of Assembly and the eventual assent of the law in April 2022 by Executive Governor of Bayelsa, Sen. Douye Diri. The BMDC Law has been gazetted and its practice direction is set to be unveiled,” Abiri said.

The nine-member governing council is chaired by Justice Abiri.

Other members are Mr Briyal Dambo, SAN, Commissioner for Justice, Justice Raphael Ajuwa, ADR Judge 1, Justice Ebiegberi Omukoro, ADR Judge 3, Justice S.W. Smaduuobogha, ADR Judge 3.

Other governing council members are, Nyingi Utomvie, Mr Warmate Idikio, private sector rep, king Collins Daniel, private sector rep and Mr Ukumbiriowei Saiyou, Chairman NBA Yenagoa.

Responding shortly after the inauguration on behalf of the governing council members, Dambo applauded the Chief Judge for actualising the full operation of the BMDC, which commenced in 2009.

Dambo, who described the full implementation of ADR in Bayelsa noted that “It is better to jaw-jaw than litigate”.

The governing council held its inaugural meeting soon after it was inaugurated by the Chief Judge of Bayelsa.