2nd Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse Conference Holds in Yenagoa, Advocates People-Centred Justice Reforms
By Our Correspondent
YENAGOA — A renowned legal scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Dorothy Ufot, has called for the re-tooling of Nigeria’s justice system to place people at the centre of jurisprudence, reflecting the highest ideals of fairness, dignity, inclusion and service.
Prof. Ufot made the call while delivering the keynote address at the Second Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse (BMDC) Stakeholders Sensitization Conference held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The conference, themed “Policy Dialogue on Justice Reforms: Re-imagining Justice in Bayelsa,” brought together eminent jurists, judicial officers, legal practitioners, government officials, security agencies and other stakeholders to deliberate on reforms aimed at enhancing justice delivery in the state.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Ufot, an accomplished Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) expert and one of Africa’s foremost authorities on ADR, noted that one of the major challenges confronting modern societies is ensuring that justice remains accessible, responsive and effective in an increasingly complex world.
The visiting Professor of International Arbitration at Baze University, Abuja, who also chairs the Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Nigeria, said the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse has demonstrated that justice can be delivered faster, more accessibly, less adversarially and in a more humane manner.
According to her, the effectiveness of any justice system should be measured by the ability of ordinary citizens to access justice regardless of their social or economic status.
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo Akpe, commended the Director of the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse, Mrs. Nyingi Eke-Spiff Utomvie, for her dedication and commitment to strengthening alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in the state.
The governor reaffirmed the state government’s support for the judiciary and described the Multi-Door Courthouse as a critical institution in the administration of justice.
He noted that alternative dispute resolution has become an important complement to conventional litigation, helping to reduce delays and improve access to justice.
In her address, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse, Justice Matilda Abrakasa-Ayemieye, highlighted the growing challenge of case congestion and delays in courts across the country.
She stressed the need for innovative approaches to dispute resolution, describing the Multi-Door Courthouse as a deliberate shift from a justice system defined solely by litigation to one that prioritises problem-solving, consensus-building and timely outcomes.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, King Collins Ebi Daniel, welcomed participants and said the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse was established to provide alternative pathways for dispute resolution and bring justice closer to the people.
He explained that the theme of this year’s conference underscores the need for continuous engagement among stakeholders in the pursuit of a more responsive, efficient and people-centred justice system.
The conference also featured a panel discussion involving seasoned legal experts and practitioners who examined various aspects of justice sector reforms and the growing role of alternative dispute resolution in conflict management.
The event ended with renewed calls for stronger collaboration among the judiciary, government institutions, the legal profession, security agencies and civil society organisations to deepen justice sector reforms and expand the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms across Bayelsa State.
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