ADR: Ogun, NGO Unveil Document for Resolution of Land, Family Disputes

James Sowole in Abeokuta

In effort to scale up the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), the. Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) in partnership with the Ogun State Government, have unveiled a document containing guidelines to resolve family and land disputes.

The document, sponsored by HiiL, was developed from inputs during intensive training of no fewer than 1,490 participants involved in both formal and informal administration of the justice system and is principally aimed at providing access to parties in family and land disputes.

The guideline was unveiled at a function held at Obas Complex within the Ogun State Secretariat, Okemosan, Abeokuta and has in attendance, officials of the State Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Women Affairs, traditional institution, community heads and security agencies among others.

Welcoming guests at the event, the Country’s Representative of HiiL, Mrs. Ijeoma Nwafor,  said the organisation embarked on the project out of the concern that many people lack access to justice due to many reasons.

According to her, research has revealed that no less than 5.1m people lack access to justice globally.

She therefore, said the guideline produced with practical inputs from stakeholders that participated in the training, would reduce burden on the conventional court.

With the guideline, Nwafor said, citizens are provided opportunities to get justice particularly in rural areas through mediation and negotiation using the guidelines in the document.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwashina Ogungbade, SAN, who spoke through the Director of Citizen Rights Department in the ministry, Mrs. Kemi Lawal, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring speedy justice for all citizens.

She emphasised that  recommendations from the training had assisted in the successful settlement of numerous family and land disputes, expressing appreciation for the organization’s initiative.

Some participants, including representatives of security personnel and traditional institutions, expressed their readiness to translate the knowledge gained into action,  in a bid to solidify peaceful coexistence and promote effective dispute resolution mechanisms among common people.

Addressing the gathering, Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Director of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Adebimpe Obienu, stated that the guidelines would equip practitioners with effective communication techniques and mediation methods,which in turn, would facilitate the peaceful resolution of disputes without necessarily going to the conventional court.

Abiodun described the document as people-centered, emphasizing its potential to provide swift resolution to family and land disputes.