Bayelsa Chief Judge Advocates for Multi-Door Courthouse Funding, Citing Affordability and Efficiency
Feb 28, 2025
YENAGOA, The Chief Judge of Bayelsa State and Chairman of the Governing Council, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, has championed the benefits of the multi-door courthouse, emphasizing its affordability and its role in reducing the caseload of traditional courts.
Speaking at the maiden Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse (BMDC) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre Stakeholders Sensitization Conference, with themed “Multi-Door Courthouse: Engine for Peace, Economic Growth and Development, on Thursday
at the Golden Tulip Resort, Justice Ayemieye expressed gratitude to the executive and legislative branches for enacting the law that established the system.
However, she also made a passionate appeal to Governor Douye Diri for adequate funding to ensure the BMDC’s continued success and expansion.
“The multi-door courthouse is beneficial to citizens and the legal system because of its affordability and reduction in the number of cases in regular courts,” Justice Ayemieye stated.
She emphasised that the system’s ability to provide quicker, more cost-effective dispute resolution, ultimately contributing to a more efficient and accessible justice system.
Justice Ayemieye traced the evolution of the multi-door courthouse concept, noting its origins in the United States and its subsequent adoption in Nigeria. Adding the state is commitment to ADR, particularly since the enactment of the Multi-Door Courthouse Law in 2022.
Discussions during the conference focused on the BMDC’s role in promoting peace, fostering economic growth, and enhancing access to justice.
Mr. Kehinde Aina, SAN, OFR, delivering his the keynote addressemphasized the need for stakeholders to think beyond the physical infrastructure of the multi-door courthouse to a “multi-door” mindset.
“Unless stakeholders rethink and reimagine Bayelsa State, including its judicial apparatus, the prosperous State we aspire to achieve will not be attained,” he said.
Also during a plenary session moderated by Prof. D. K. Derri, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Niger Delta University. Panelists included HRH King Collins Daniel, Prof. Ibibia Worika, Hon. Justice Simon W. Amaduobogha, and Nyingi Eke-Spiff Utomvie.
HRH King Collins Daniel described the Multi-Door Courthouse as a system attached to conventional courts for promoting peace and harmony. Prof. Ibibia Worika emphasized the importance of the Multi-Door Courthouse in providing speedy dispute resolution, citing the rising cost of litigation.
Hon. Justice Simon W. Amaduobogha shared his experience with the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, highlighting the effectiveness of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in resolving a multimillion-naira case within 24 hours.
Nyingi Eke-Spiff Utomvie stressed the need for government assistance in promoting the use of the Multi-Door Courthouse in rural areas.
The conference culminated in several key resolutions, including:
– Retired Judges as ADR Members: Retired judges should be part of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process.
– Coexistence of ADR and Traditional Methods: ADR and traditional methods of resolving disputes should coexist.
– Training and Retraining: Training and retraining of lawyers and other professionals on the Multi-Door Courthouse system should be encouraged.
– Collaboration with NBA: Rivers and Bayelsa multi-door courthouses should collaborate with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to form a legal production mediation program targeted at the business community.
– Pre-action Protocol: Rules of Courts should include pre-action protocols to be done before litigation.
– Registry Overhaul:The Registry of the Court should be overhauled to filter and refer cases to the multi-door courthouse.
– ADR-friendly Judicial System: The reformation of the Judicial Legal System should be ADR-friendly.
– ADR Clauses in Government Contracts: The Attorney General/Commissioner of Justice should include ADR clauses in all government contracts.
