Ore (Ondo State), April 10, 2026( NAN) The Chief Judge ( CJ) of Ondo State, Justice Olusegun Odusola, has said that adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) instead of litigation in civil cases was not a threat to legal practice.
Odusola stated this on Friday at the Stakeholders’ Town Hall Engagement on the Operations of the Ondo Multi-Door Courthouse in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ADR is the adoption of mediation, conciliation, arbitration and other methods to resolve disputes instead of legal action in court.
The event had as its theme: “Access to Justice: Strengthening Public Confidence in the Justice System through the Ondo Multi-door Courthouse.”
He added that the ADR initiative was an essential complement that would enhance the overall effectiveness of the justice system in the state.
The CJ said that by embracing ADR, lawyers would not only serve their clients better but also contribute to the broader goal of justice sector reform.
He said that ADR initiative would ensure justice is accessible to all, stressing “justice should never be construed as confined to the four walls of a courtroom rather a service that needs to be actively delivered to every corner of society.”
Odusola urged all stakeholders to become ambassadors of ADR within their respective spheres of influence, promote it, support it, and utilize it.
“One of the cardinal objectives of the judiciary is to ensure access to justice for all regardless of status, location, or financial capacity.
“The Ondo State Multi-door Courthouse is a powerful tool in achieving this objective by bringing ADR services closer to the people.
“We are decentralizing justice and making it more inclusive.
” The success of ADR and indeed the effectiveness of the Multi-Door Courthouse is not dependent solely on the judiciary.
“It requires the active collaboration and support of all stakeholders.
“The task before us is clear. We must work together to deepen the acceptance and utilization of ADR through the Ondo State Multi-door Courthouse,” the CJ said.
He said that ADR could address alarmingly high backlog of cases crippling courts, creating delays that could lead to miscarriages of justice and the disenfranchisement of citizens waiting for justice.
Also speaking , the Director-General of the Ondo State Multi-Door Courthouse, Dr Dickson Ogunfuyi, said that litigation was not always the most suitable path for every dispute, hence the importance of ADR approach.
Ogunfuyi added that ADR offered flexibility, confidentiality, speed, and most importantly solutions that are mutually beneficial.
He said that the stakeholders’ engagement gave room for opportunities to partner with all strata of society in ensuring dispensation of justice.
“Distinguished participants, the Multi-Door Courthouse provides a platform where disputes can be resolved through mediation, conciliation, arbitration, and other Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms.
“These processes are not only faster and more cost-effective, but also help maintain relationships and promote community harmony.
“However, the success of this system does not rest solely on the judiciary or the institutional framework.
“It depends, to a very large extent, on the awareness, acceptance, and active participation of all stakeholders gathered here today.
“It is our expectation that at the end of today’s deliberations there will be increased awareness of the services and benefits offered by the Ondo State Multi-Door Courthouse,” he said.
In his remarks, the representative of the traditional rulers in the local government area, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, Orunja of Odigbo, appreciated the initiative, asking for more enlightenment.
Oba Akinrinmade promised that traditional rulers would support the initiative in the area to make it a huge success.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Adebowale Lawal, welcomed the ADR initiative, describing it as a great relief on the police, promising to promote the initiative.
The Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Ore, Mr Olalekan Agunbiade, enjoined lawyers to educate their clients on ADR, adding “it’s not all cases that need to go through conventional courts.”
Also, Mr Bamisile Adewale, the state Chairman, Institute of Chartered Mediators, asked stakeholders to support the ADR , saying that it would greatly ensure dispensation of justice within short time. (NAN).
