Rivers
Customary Law: CCA Harps On Fair Hearing Importance
The President of Customary Court of Appeal (CCA), Rivers State, Justice Iheanachor Obuzor, has tasked chairmen and members of the state customary courts to ensure that the principles and doctrines of fair hearing are adhered to in the adjudication of customary matters in their respective areas of jurisdiction in line with administration of justice.
Obuzor made this call while declaring open a two-day capacity building workshop organized for chairmen and members of the state customary courts in the state, held at Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute, Port Harcourt, with the theme, “Empowering Chairmen and members for efficient and fair dispute Resolutions”.
The CCA boss, who was represented at the occasion by justice B. N. L. Deemua, recounted the importance of fair hearing in the adjudication of justice, stressed that fair hearing principles are crucial as it gives parties the benefits to be heard before arriving at judgment .
He asked the Chairmen and members sitting at the Customary Bar to always be fair and upright in the discharge of their duties and conduct their trials in line with the native traditions, laws, and customs of their respective communities of areas of their jurisdiction.
Describing the theme of the workshop as apt and timely, while noting the importance of training and retraining, he said, “Take the two days training very serious and it will impact and improve all of you on the job as there is no limit to where you can attain. If you do well, you can get to be a judge”.
Justice Obuzor used the opportunity to thank the management of the institute for putting up the programmes for the customary workers and assured of his continued partnership with the institute for enhanced service delivery in customary jurisprudence in the state.
Earlier in her opening address, the Director of the Justice Mary Odili judicial Institute, Port Harcourt, Justice Anuri Ken-Chikere, said Customary court’s jurisprudence deals with summary jurisdiction, unlike the superior conventional courts, adding that they have the jurisdiction to hear both civil and criminal cases .
She further emphasized that the doctrines and principles of fear hearing must be given credence in arriving at there rulings and judgement, stressing that customary courts play key roles in contributing to peace and harmony in the society.
Highlights of the occasion were good will messages from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch, and many others.
Amadi Akujobi
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi