By Our Correspondent
Stakeholders in the justice sector have called for greater awareness, stronger collaboration, and increased grassroots involvement in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms during a town hall engagement organised by the Ondo State Multi-Door Courthouse in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area.
The event, themed “Access to Justice: Strengthening Public Confidence in the Justice System through the Ondo Multi-Door Courthouse,” was held at Adolak Hotel, Ore.
The event brought together judicial officers, traditional rulers, law enforcement agencies, legal practitioners, artisans to examine the operations and benefits of the Multi-Door Courthouse system.
In his keynote address, the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Hon. Justice A.O. Odusola, encouraged stakeholders to adopt ADR as a more accessible, efficient, and people-oriented approach to resolving disputes.
He described the gathering as a meeting of stakeholders committed to reshaping the justice system, stressing that justice must go beyond the confines of the courtroom and reach all segments of society.
“Justice should not be limited to the courtroom. It must be accessible to people in every part of society,” he said.
Justice Odusola noted that the conventional litigation process is often seen as complex and intimidating, which discourages many citizens from seeking legal redress and, in some cases, promotes impunity.
He therefore called for deliberate efforts to bring justice closer to communities while improving public understanding of legal rights and available dispute resolution options.
According to him, the Ondo State Multi-Door Courthouse plays a critical role in achieving this goal by offering alternative channels such as mediation and arbitration, which are faster, more cost-effective, and better suited to preserving relationships than traditional litigation.
He also raised concerns over the growing congestion in courts, warning that delays caused by case backlogs continue to weaken public confidence in the judiciary.
“The Multi-Door Courthouse helps to ease this pressure. By referring appropriate cases to ADR, judges are able to concentrate on more complex matters,” he explained.
The Chief Judge added that mediation, in particular, encourages cooperation and amicable settlements, helping to reduce conflict and maintain relationships between parties.
He further highlighted the broad relevance of ADR, noting that traders, transport unions, landlords, tenants, cooperative societies, school proprietors, and artisans can all benefit from quicker and less adversarial dispute resolution processes.
Justice Odusola emphasized that the success of the initiative depends on collective effort, calling on traditional rulers, legal practitioners, government agencies, the business community, and civil society organisations to actively support and promote ADR.
He urged traditional rulers to take the lead in promoting ADR at the grassroots level, while also encouraging lawyers to see it as a complementary approach that strengthens, rather than diminishes, legal practice.
Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the Orunja of Odigbo, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, described the initiative as relatively new to many communities and called for increased public enlightenment.
“This initiative is still new to us. We need more awareness to fully understand its benefits, but we are willing to support its implementation in our communities,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, pledged the support of the police, noting that ADR would help ease operational challenges, especially congestion in remand facilities.
“We face difficulties managing suspects due to overcrowded remand centres. This initiative will help reduce that burden, and we are ready to support it,” he said.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ore Branch, Mr. Olalekan Agunbiade, acknowledged that ADR may still be unfamiliar to some lawyers but described it as an important development in the state’s justice system.
He urged legal practitioners to educate their clients on its benefits, stressing that not every dispute needs to be resolved through litigation.
“We must embrace this system because it ultimately benefits everyone,” he said.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Mediators, Barrister Bamisile Adewale, called for the support of all stakeholders, noting that ADR would significantly improve the speed of justice delivery.
He assured that the institute would collaborate with the judiciary to ensure the success of the initiative.
In his opening remarks, the Director-General of the Ondo State Multi-Door Courthouse, Dr. Dickson Ogunfuyi, said the engagement was designed to strengthen partnerships, build trust, and deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the institution’s services.
“We are here not just to speak, but also to listen. We are here to collaborate and, most importantly, to build trust,” he said.
Dr. Ogunfuyi noted that while litigation remains a vital part of the justice system, it is not always the most effective option.
He explained that ADR provides flexible, confidential, and faster processes that often lead to mutually beneficial outcomes.
“Disputes are inevitable in human interactions, but the way we resolve them determines the strength of our society,” he added.
He further explained that the Multi-Door Courthouse offers a range of dispute resolution options, including mediation, conciliation, and arbitration, which help reduce delays, preserve relationships, and promote social harmony.
He expressed optimism that increased awareness and stakeholder engagement would expand the reach of ADR, particularly at the grassroots level.
Some participants who spoke at the event expressed confidence that sustained collaboration and awareness would position Ondo State as a model for efficient and people-centred dispute resolution in Nigeria
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