The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) has built and handed over a Community Justice Centre, known as Kad-Adalci, to the Kaduna State Government to facilitate quick dispensation of justice and reduce the financial burden on litigants.
The Country Representative of HiiL, Mrs Ijeoma Nwafor, stated this during the handover of the Kaduna Community Justice Centre located along Kigo Road, Kaduna, explaining that the initiative was designed to bring justice closer to the people and provide accessible and affordable means of resolving disputes.
Mrs Nwafor said access to justice had for too long been associated with distance, high costs and complex procedures, stressing that Kad-Adalci would enable communities to resolve disputes that could otherwise escalate into prolonged conflicts.
She called on residents to embrace mediation and dialogue in resolving disputes, particularly over land, family disagreements and other community-related conflicts, rather than allowing such matters to degenerate into violence.
According to her, the success and sustainability of Kad-Adalci would require the collective support of government, traditional institutions, lawyers, community leaders and residents, adding that communities must continue to strengthen traditional and customary mediation systems while ensuring that disputes are addressed before they escalate.
Also speaking, the Kaduna State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr James Kanyip, said the conventional courts were already burdened with a large number of cases, making the justice process slow.
Kanyip explained that the community justice system was designed to complement the conventional courts by handling minor disputes and small claims at the grassroots, thereby allowing citizens to access justice without spending excessive time and money.
He said some citizens, particularly those with limited financial resources, might be unable to pursue cases through the conventional courts, stressing that Kad-Adalci would take justice to their doorsteps.
The Commissioner disclosed that the pilot centres were being established across the three senatorial districts, with centres in Kafanchan and Kaduna South among the locations, adding that the initiative would eventually be expanded to the local government level.
He said Kad-Adalci was being implemented in collaboration with the Kaduna State Multi-Door Courthouse, explaining that agreements reached by disputing parties through mediation would be registered with the Multi-Door Courthouse for enforcement.
“Quick justice, less cost,” Kanyip said, stressing that the community justice centres would provide alternative dispute resolution without the lengthy filing procedures and financial demands associated with conventional litigation.
In his remarks, Justice Adamu Bello of the Kaduna State High Court described the handover as an important step towards changing the way justice is delivered in the state.
Justice Bello said Kad-Adalci was not intended to replace the formal court system but to complement it by providing information, mediation, negotiation and appropriate referrals before disputes become serious cases requiring litigation.
He said the centres would provide a first point of contact for citizens seeking justice, enabling them to explain their problems, understand their options and receive guidance on whether their cases should be resolved through mediation, referred to a government agency or taken to court.
The judge added that information generated from the centres could help government and the judiciary better understand the common disputes affecting communities and develop solutions based on the actual justice needs of citizens.
Justice Bello commended HiiL, the Kaduna State Government, Ministry of Justice and other stakeholders involved in the Kaduna Justice Innovation Lab for developing an initiative tailored to the needs of the state.
He expressed confidence that with sustained commitment from relevant institutions and communities, Kad-Adalci would strengthen access to justice and help prevent minor disputes from escalating into major conflicts.
Rel/Shindong Bala
