By Sani Idris
An NGO, International Alert, in collaboration with Multidoor Court House Kaduna High Court, has begun the training of no fewer than 150 people on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Kaduna State.
The trainees cut across traditional and religious leaders, dialogue facilitators, women and peace networks, among others, that exist in communities within the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was under the International Alert’s project implemented in Kaduna state and Zamfara, for promoting stability, access to justice and accountability
Speaking to newsmen at the sideline of the workshop, the NGO’s Project Manager, Mr Sunday Momoh, said it was to impact to the participants the requisite skills to be able to fill in the gap that exists in the access to justice space especially mediation skills.
According to him, if enough people are able to have the mediation skills to settle aggrieved parties, it would go a long way in boasting peace in the community.
Momoh, therefore, said the partnership with multi-door courthouses was borne out of the need for the communities to be able to coexist together.
He stressed that the efforts the Kaduna State Government was making in areas of ensuring that the people have access to justice were evident in its creation of spaces such as the multi-door court house, and other dialogue houses.
Momoh disclosed that the training would also take place in Jema’a LGA of the state.
Speaking further, the project manager said the NGO has done a lot in sensitisation and had established community platforms for dialogue facilitators in the communities they work.
He added that they have also established a women peace and security network group.
”They are working on mediation and providing services to victims of sexual and gender based violence and linking them up to where the could access psychosocial and other related services,” Momoh said.
Earlier in a remark, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Justice, Sule Shuaibu, said the ministry has the citizens’ right department solely responsible for ADR.
Shuaibu, who doubles as the Attorney General of the State, represented by Salvation Kyari, a State Counsel, said they engage in various forms of ADR matters for indigents at no cost.
He added that a peaceful society grows and develops, describing resolutions of peace and conflicts as easy, friendly, cost efficient and a win-win situation.
“The High Court in Kaduna has a multi-door court house.
”When someone is in a court and has a matter, at any point before judgement is passed, if he feels he wants ADR, the court is always willing and grants adjournment to give the parties leverage to explore ADR,” he said.
The commissioner lauded International Alert for the choice of participants, adding that traditional and religious leaders were key.
”This is because they are the closest to the people, where disputes happen among the people in communities and places of worship.
“As we interact, we can’t avoid disputes. I hope the participants will put into practice what they learnt, to further ensure peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding in our communities,” he added.
Also, the Director, Multidoor CourtHouse, Kaduna High Court, Dorcas Daniel, said ADR was important in dispute resolution.
She added, “Instead of litigation, ADR is important through ways such as mediation, negotiation, arbitration and restorative justice”.
”ADR saves time and energy, where parties settle dispute amicable and restore their relationships back.”
Daniel also said in the spirit of ADR, the Chief Judge of Kaduna State, has set the last week of every July as a court-free day.
She explained,”Nobody goes to court in the week, but will go to the Multi-door CourtHouse for free settlement, all in the bid to encourage ADR.
“We have trained mediators that volunteer to settle disputes in Islamic and customary law, be it arbitration or mediation.
”We only collect a token for service, but most of the time file the cases for free.”
Some of the participants, Dankande Istifanus and Laraba Baba, from Juji and Maraban Rido communities, said they have learnt the virtues of patience and how to treat people with it.
The duo described the training as critical to peaceful coexistence that could guarantee fair hearing and leverage one to speak and express vividly his/her side of the story without fear of committing contempt or violating court proceedings.
They thanked the NGO for the training, while pledging to make use of the knowledge for their community’s peaceful coexistence.(NAN)
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