Rivers Judiciary Inaugurates VMS

Towards the actualisation of the establishment of the Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse, the state Judiciary has inaugurated the Volunteer Mediator Scheme (VMS) to enhance access to justice by providing alternative mechanism to supplement litigation in the resolution of disputes in the state.
The Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse (RSMDC) is a court-connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre which offers a range of Alternative Dispute Resolution process.
The mission of the RSMDC is to supplement the available resources for justice by providing enhanced, timely, and cost effective and user friendly access to justice.
The Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi while speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the RSMDC Centre, State Judiciary Complex in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said the management of the state Judiciary has designed a 10-year strategic roadmap for the RSMDC in the state.
Justice Amadi said the 10-year roadmap was to ensure that the RSMDC does not witness regression, adding that many workshops and capacity training have been lined up next year to develop the manpower needs of the centre.
He announced that approval has been given for the centre to host its settlement week twice next year, adding that he would personally, with other judges, witness the celebration with a bid to know the level of successes and achievements.
According to him, the state multi-door courthouse has taken off on a fast lane, saying that most of the cases referred from the courts, have been settled, while some were also at the verge of conclusion.
“When I saw the application for the inauguration of the VMS, I immediately directed the acting director of the RSMDC to work out the modalities of how the programme will be. I am happy that the event has taken place”, he stated.
Also speaking, the RSMDC Acting Director, Barrister Victor Emeka Nweke said the advantages of settling disputes at the RSMDC include speedy and accurate dispute resolution, protection of privacy of parties, preservation of relationship of parties, reduction in financial costs of dispute resolution as well as amicable dispute resolution, among others.
Nweke said that Section 3(a)of the RSMDC Law provides that the centre has the powers to refer disputes from High Court of Rivers State, Magistrate Court, court of any other jurisdiction outside Rivers State, Federal High Court, private persons, corporations, public institutions for dispute resolution, adding that its powers were not limited by territorial jurisdiction unlike regular courts.
He used the opportunity to thank the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliation (ICMC) for its support to the state Judiciary, and urged other ADRs to come up with their beneficial schemes for collaboration with RSMDC, for overall interest of increasing access to justice in the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliation (ICMC), Agada John Elachi, said that the ICMC has acquired the reputation for being the foremost professional body of mediation practitioners in Nigeria, with more than two decades in the country.
He said it has trained and certified prospective candidates and encouraged organisations and institutions to adopt mediation and conciliation as primary mechanisms for addressing disputes.
Represented by Dr Ayibaemi Ken Fashola, Elachi, said the scheme has been designed to avail members practice opportunity and offer platforms for the speedy, cost effective and at-no-cost resolution of small claims and disputes for the business community and artisans as well as matters bordering on domestic disputes and interpersonal conflicts.

By: Akujobi Amadi