Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) has announced that it has recovered over N2.2 billion of litigants’ claims within one week during the Lagos Settlement Week (LSW) held this December.
Lagos Settlement Week is a programme of the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse organised in conjunction with the Lagos State Judiciary and set aside by the chief judge of Lagos State, to create opportunity for disputants to have their cases mediated at no cost to the parties.
It is designed to impact the justice system of Lagos State through gradual but definitive reductions of the case load of the courts within a specified time and to encourage the early settlement of cases pending litigation in the High Court and Magistrate Courts. LSW provides satisfactory, timely, user friendly and cost-effective access to justice to litigants and to bring ADR to the grassroots.
Speaking in Lagos recently during the end of the year neutrals’ dinner, Justices Opeyemi Oke, chief judge of Lagos State, said that a total of 488 cases were referred by judges, magistrates and litigants to the programme through court referrals and work-in-process.
“During the week, 212 cases were mediated, out of which 44 were settled, 162 cases were adjourned and six not settled or sent back to court for various reasons. Of the 44 cases that were settled, 21 were property related disputes, six were commercial disputes, 15 matrimonial matters, and one tort while the remaining one was on corporate governance,” Oke explained.
According to Oke, LSW programme has in the last decade facilitated the resolution of several commercial disputes thereby preserving commercial transactions and business relationships as well as encouraging foreign direct investment.
Oke said Lagos being the commercial nerve centre of the country is home to influx of investors, with resultant effect on an increasing number of commercial and contractual disputes filed at the High Court of Lagos State.
Stating that not all matters are ADR amenable, Oke listed dispute that pertain to civil, commercial, contractual, family and probate, real estate or property, landlord-tenant, employer-employee as cases suitable for ADR.
