Communities have been urged to settle their disputes outside the courtroom to reduce number of cases pending in the court.
The appeal was made by the attorney and accredited mediator, Lagos State Multi-Door Court, Mr. Fola Alade during the eighth anniversary and induction of new fellows and award of certificates of professional excellence of Alternative Dispute and Resolution Society of Nigeria (ADRSN) in lbadan, Oyo State.
Alade, who was a guest speaker at the ceremony, urged lawyers handling cases of disputes to ensure that, at the initial stage of such disputes, negotiation and mediation are used to resolve issues between disputants before going to court for judgment.
Also speaking, another attorney and accredited mediator, Lagos/Osun State Multi-Door Courts, Mrs. Abiola Hafsat Adetola, said that disputes are quickly resolved by professional dispute resolvers and mediators than in the courtroom where cases are delayed.
She stated that disputes can also be resolved amicably on-line without meeting disputants physically, adding that those who have the mindset of settling their disputes in order to avert delay seek the intervention of mediators, negotiations and arbitrators.
In his speech, president of ADRSN, Chief Kole Ojo said most conflicts, especially in Nigeria, could have been averted if professional mediators were consulted for peaceful resolution.
Ojo, who presented certificates of professional excellence to new Fellows of ADRSN called on the Federal Government to give the needed support to dispute resolvers.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then