Lawyer Urges Litigants To Embrace ADR

A Port Harcourt-
based lawyer and human rights crusader, Barr Jackson Assor, has urged litigants to explore Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism to ease the glut of cases in Rivers State High Court.
Assor, who stated this, while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday, expressed regrets that despite the front-loading system which was intended to facilitate the dispensation of justice, years at the trial courts.
He described delayed justice as denied justice, and told litigants that the way out of the glut of cases in the high court was ADR.
Barr Assor also called for the specialization of courts, which he noted would bring expertise in the handling of matters by judges.
According to him, “when courts specialize productivity is enhanced.  We want to see specialized courts in Rivers State. The volume of cases is rising by the day.  Courts are congested.  The number of cases in courts makes it difficult for timely dispensation of justice”.
“It is worse for the accused persons who are languishing in prison custody without trial.  It is regrettable and something has to be done to change the status quo”, he added.
He lauded the state government for the plan to create more high courts but noted that it was not enough to create court alone.
Barr Assor said the specialization of courts as it was done in Lagos would help to ease the congestion in Rivers judiciary.
The Port Harcourt lawyer also called for the review of the extant criminal procedure law of the state to suit the taste of present time.

Chidi Enyie