The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, has assured that future editions of the Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse (RSMDC) Statewide Settlement Week will no longer be held during the court vacation to enable judges and legal practitioners participate fully.
Justice Chibuzor-Amadi gave the assurance at the opening of the second five-day Statewide Settlement Week, which commenced today in Port Harcourt.
He disclosed that a committee had been constituted to review existing procedures and encourage more litigants to embrace the Multi-Door Courthouse as an alternative to approaching the High Court or Magistrate Court for dispute resolution.
The Chief Judge stressed that the Multi-Door Courthouse was established not to generate revenue for the state government but to decongest the courts and make justice more accessible through alternative dispute resolution.
He commended the Director and staff of the Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse for their commitment to organising the settlement week and urged volunteer mediators to uphold the values of independence, integrity, competence, fairness, equality and impartiality in line with global best practices.
Earlier, the Director of the Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse, Victor Nweke, highlighted the institution’s achievements in reducing the burden on the state’s courts through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Nweke also praised the leadership of the Chief Judge and the dedication of volunteer mediators in promoting speedy and effective justice delivery.
In his goodwill message, retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli attributed the successes recorded by the Multi-Door Courthouse to the support of Justice Chibuzor-Amadi and encouraged the management to remain committed to the core mandate of alternative dispute resolution.
Representatives of the Rivers State Ministry of Justice and other ADR stakeholders attended the event and reaffirmed their commitment to building a strong, independent judiciary and promoting fair, efficient and timely justice delivery in the state.
