The Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, has called for renewed commitment to the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a strategic tool for promoting peace and justice, particularly in northern Nigeria.
He made the call while receiving the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kaduna Branch, who paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Zaria.
Bamalli expressed appreciation to the Association for its continued support in advancing peaceful coexistence, justice, and the rule of law across the Zazzau Emirate and Kaduna State.
He described ADR as an effective mechanism for addressing disputes through dialogue, reconciliation, and fairness, noting that justice should not always rely on court litigation.
The Emir stated that under his leadership, more than 2,000 disputes had been successfully resolved at the palace without going to court, significantly easing pressure on the judicial system and reinforcing public trust in traditional mediation systems.
He further raised concern over the increasing number of individuals detained without charges, calling for stronger collaboration among traditional institutions, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies to ensure timely and fair justice.
Ambassador Bamalli emphasized the need to continually strengthen ADR structures to fast-track justice delivery and reduce the burden on courts, especially for non-criminal cases.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NBA Kaduna Branch, Barrister Baba Lawal, said the visit was to formally notify the Emir of his nomination as an ADR Ambassador, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to conflict resolution and community harmony.
He assured the Association’s continued partnership with the Emirate Council to promote peace, justice, and unity across communities.
Ambassador Bamalli thanked the NBA for the honor and prayed for the success of its leadership in service to society.
COV/Ibrahim Suleiman
