– As Keynote Speaker Advocates Reforms to Reflect People Centred Justice System
By- Alambo Datonye
A professor of international arbitration, Mrs. Dorothy Ufot has advocated the re-tooling of the justice system to that which commits to placing people at the center of jurisprudence that reflects the highest ideals of fairness, dignity, inclusion and service.
The renowned legal scholar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria made the call while delivering a keynote address at the second edition of the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse Stakeholders Sensitization Conference held in Yenagoa.
The Conference which had as its theme “Policy Dialogue on Justice Reforms: Re-imagining Justice in Bayelsa, assembled eminent jurists and other judicial officers, legal practitioners, government officials, security agencies, and other stakeholders who deliberated on reforms aimed at improving justice delivery in Bayelsa state.
Professor Dorothy Ufot who is an accomplished Alternative Dispute Resolution expert and one of Africa’s foremost Authorities on ADR noted that one of the major challenges confronting modern societies was how to ensure that justice remains accessible, responsive, and effective in an increasingly complex world.
The visiting Professor of International Arbitration at the Baze University, Abuja who currently chairs the Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria emphasized that the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse has already demonstrated that justice could be faster, more accessible, less adversarial, and more humane, stressing that the effectiveness of any justice system is best measured by the ability of ordinary citizens to access justice, irrespective of their social or economic status.
In a remark, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, commended the Director of the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse, Mrs. Nyingi Eke-Spiff Utomvie, for her dedication and commitment to strengthening alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in the state and reaffirmed the state government’s support for the judiciary.
He described the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse as a critical institution in the administration of justice, stating that alternative dispute resolution had become an important complement to conventional litigation.
In an address, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse, Justice Matilda Abrakasa-Ayemieye, said the challenges of case congestion and delays continue to place significant pressure on courts across the country, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative approaches to dispute resolution.
According to her, the Multi-Door Courthouse represents a deliberate shift from a justice system defined solely by litigation to one that prioritises problem-solving, consensus-building, and timely outcomes.
In an address of welcome, Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, King Collins Ebi Daniel, said the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse was established to provide alternative pathways for dispute resolution and bring justice closer to the people, stating that the theme for this year’s Conference reflects the urgent need for continuous engagement among stakeholders in pursuit of a more responsive, efficient, and people-centred justice system.
The conference which also featured a panel discussion comprising seasoned legal experts and practitioners concluded with renewed calls for stronger partnership among the judiciary, government institutions, the bar and the bench, security agencies, and civil society groups to deepen justice sector reforms and expand the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms across Bayelsa State.
