Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina States are taking steps to domesticate the Multidoor Courthouse Bill in their respective states.
In a significant move to enhance access to justice and promote Alternative Conflict Resolution (ACR) mechanisms, officials from the judiciary, policymakers, security agencies, and traditional institutions held a meeting in Sokoto State.
Radio Nigeria in Sokoto reports that the meeting was organised by International Alert in collaboration with the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) programme.
In his opening remarks, the Country Director of International Alert, Mr. Kingsley Odo, said the meeting focused on a bill seeking the enactment of the Multidoor Courthouse initiative aimed at providing quick, efficient, and accessible dispute-resolution services without relying solely on conventional courts in the three states.
He explained that Kaduna and Lagos States have already domesticated the bill and are currently benefiting from Multidoor Courthouse services.
According to him, once implemented, ACR mechanisms will help decongest courtrooms and ensure timely justice delivery.
The Country Director noted that the Multidoor Courthouse concept is a hybrid system integrating mediation, arbitration, negotiation, and conciliation within the formal judicial framework.
Declaring the event open, the Deputy Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Honourable Kabiru Ibrahim, restated the state’s commitment to adopting alternative dispute-resolution processes as a complement to traditional litigation.
He observed that conventional court procedures are often lengthy and costly, stressing that the Multidoor Courthouse initiative provides a practical platform for resolving disputes amicably and promptly. He assured that the Sokoto State Assembly is ready to give the bill the necessary attention.
Also speaking, the Director of Legal Services, Zamfara State House of Assembly, Barrister Bello Idris, said the bill, when implemented in Zamfara, would help address increasing cases of land disputes, commercial conflicts, and family disagreements.
A resource person from Kaduna State and Director of the Kaduna State Multidoor Courthouse, Dorcas Levy Daniel, explained that the MDC framework provides multiple entry points where citizens can choose the ACR method most suitable for their disputes. She added that trained professionals handle the processes to ensure fairness and confidentiality.
She stressed the need for dedicated infrastructure, trained personnel, and strong monitoring systems to assess the performance of the MDC in states preparing to domesticate the legislation.
NASIR MALALI
