Ogun State Judiciary And The Institute Of Chartered Mediators And Conciliators ICMC) Agree To Partner To Host The 1st ADR Conference For Judicial Officers In Nigeria

On the 30th of May 2023, the President of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC), Agada John Elachi Ph.D., FICMC, FCIArb (UK) led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Honourable the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Honourable Justice (Dr.) Mosunmola Arinola Dipeolu, FICMC, FHNR to submit to his lordship a concept note for the hosting of the 1st Annual ADR Conference for Judicial officers to be co-hosted by the Ogun State Judiciary and the Institute.

His lordship received the ICMC delegation in company of the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Ogun State, the Deputy Chief Registrar, Legal, the Deputy Chief Registrar Administration, the Deputy Chief Registrar Special Duties and the Special Assistant to the Honourable Chief Judge.

In his brief remark, the President commended his lordship for the sterling work that she is doing at the Ogun State Judiciary, and the great progress and achievements that have been recorded in her tenure. The President also notified my lord that the visit was a fall out of the ICMC 2022 Annual Conference where ICMC and Ogun State judiciary agreed to partner to provide training for judicial officers on ADR with a view to enhancing access to justice.

Thereafter, the President of the Institute presented to my lord the concept notes for the proposed 1st ADR Conference for Judicial Officers. The President also presented to my lord the report of the 2-day workshop for Directors of Multi-Door Courthouses and Heads of Private Dispute Resolution Centers which was held on the 3rd and 4th of May 2023.

His lordship in her remarks commended the President and ICMC for remaining committed to the idea of organizing an ADR conference for all Judicial officers which was birthed in November 2022. His lordship approved the concept note and stated that within 2 weeks she will assign relevant officers within the Judiciary to work with ICMC towards the planning of this landmark event.

The key objectives/goals of the conference as captured in the concept note are:

• That all judicial officers acquire basic knowledge of the workings of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms and the attendant benefits to effective administration of justice.
• Provide a platform for sharing of knowledge among judicial officers and relevant stakeholders on the workings of ADR.
• Provide a peer review platform for sharing experience of the implementation of ADR in states where it is currently being applied successfully.
• Set the tune and a possible action plan on how to build foundational structures and mind change in the entire judiciary for a transformational change in the way administration of justice is viewed and applied.
• To encourage judicial officers to increasingly manage proceedings in Court and issue orders which would encourage the adoption of ADR methods in dispute resolution.
• To mandatorily refer parties directly to the Multi-door Courthouse and other ADR centers (where available) to explore settlement of their dispute in appropriate circumstances.
• To ensure the adoption and enforcement of Terms of Settlement reached at the ADR session in the same manner as a Judgment or Order of Court.

In delivering the vote of thanks, Amb. ’Segun Ogunyannwo, FICMC, CEDR, thanked his lordship for receiving the ICMC delegation despite her very busy schedule. He also thanked his lordship for agreeing to partner with ICMC and remarked that this is a confirmation of his lordship’s dedication and commitment to the spread and development of ADR and the advancement of the effective administration of Justice.