The Director, Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse (RSMDC), His Worship, Victor E. Nweke, has advised residents of the state to take advantage of the multi-door court to resolve their disputes and conflicts, pointing out that the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) option saves time and cost, and also enables amicable dispute resolution.
Nweke, who spoke to our correspondent in an exclusive interview in his office in Port Harcourt, said ADR is highly advantageous as it helps to reduce the number of cases filed in courts, ensure speedy justice delivery through the use of ADR mechanisms, as well as reduce cost of disputes and guarantees amicable dispute resolution.
According to him, the RSMDC, is “a court-connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) centre with the office located at Block E of the High Court Complex of the Rivers State Judiciary,adding that the RSMDC is in collaboration with other ADR centres registered and accredited by the body with the emphasis to promotes and enhances effective functioning growth of the justice system through the engagement of ADR methods.”
His Worship, maintained that the establishment of the RSMDC pursuant to Section 1, Sub-section 1 of the RSMDC Law, No. 9 of 2019 led to the inauguration of the RSMDC on 14th October, 2021,while pointing out that the centre was established basically to enhance access to justice delivery through the provisions of ADR mechanisms to supplement the use of litigation in the resolution of disputes.
His Worship, Nweke, who is the pioneer Director of the centre, equally stated that the institution of RSMDC was geared towards minimizing frustration of parties and delay in the justice delivery system by providing a standard legal framework for fair and efficient settlement of disputes through the use of ADR.
The RSMDC Director maintained that, as a body established by law, the centre has the power to resolve disputes through mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluation and any other ADR mechanism on matters that may be referred to it from the Rivers State High Court, magistrate courts, and courts of any other jurisdiction outside the state, be it cases involving the Federal Government, State governments, communities, private persons, corporations, public institutions and even other dispute resolution organisations.
He further explained that the body is also empowered to act as administrators in the conduct of ADR proceedings, locally or internationally.
He also pointed out that ADR outcomes such as Settlement Agreements or Memoranda of Understanding duly signed by disputing parties and arbitration awards may be registered at the RSMDC for speedy endorsement as consent judgment and conclusive orders of the ADR judges.
The director enjoined every company or organisation in the State to establish an ADR department, unit or employ an ADR officer, even as he advised every tertiary institution in the State to establish a Campus ADR centre to resolve students disputes and minor work place matters instead of the use of self-help.
