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Anambra State Commissioner for Lands, Offornze Amucheazi (SAN), has called on lawyers in the state to encourage their clients to resolve disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms.
Amucheazi, who spoke at an event organized in Awka, Anambra State, by Pinnacle Tree Attorneys to mark their third anniversary, decried the huge sums of money Anambra residents spend on the police over matters that can be amicably settled through ADR.
The commissioner, who was the keynote speaker at the event, dismissed the belief that ADR would kill litigation and deprive lawyers of their jobs. He explained that ADR guarantees quicker resolution of disputes, while lawyers still benefit from the process.
Speaking on the theme “Promoting Peaceful Settlement Through ADR (Peace is Better),” he said:
“Many people think ADR will take us away from legal practice, but that is not true. Today’s ADR combines the features of both litigation and traditional dispute resolution, and lawyers still make money from it and everyone is happy.
“I urge lawyers to always explore ADR in settling disputes among their clients. I have discovered that arbitration may not work for some types of cases, but ADR generally remains a better way to resolve issues.
“The money our people spend on police over cases is alarming. The police are making a lot of money from us, yet these are matters that can be settled civilly. But for ADR to succeed, parties must have an open mind.”
He revealed that since assuming office, the ministry has resolved 74 disputes through mediation.
“We get parties to sit down, we listen to them, and they make the decision themselves on how they want to resolve their issues. That is mediation, unlike conciliation, where the conciliator dictates the terms of settlement,” he added.
“We are not saying litigation should die, no. We cannot do without litigation. But we should be open to ADR. The good thing is that with ADR, you still maintain business relationships after settlement. I have seen litigations where people spent money and waited five to ten years for judgment, yet did not enjoy the benefits afterwards.
“We will continue sensitizing our people because most matters in court can be resolved through ADR. Some litigants have come to me saying they want to settle because peace is better than the years wasted in court. So, lawyers, when you charge, note that there are better ways to resolve disputes than litigation.”
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Principal Partner of Pinnacle Tree Attorneys, Barr. Chekwube Ezekwike, said the theme of the event was chosen to promote peaceful arbitration over prolonged courtroom battles.
“There is a belief that lawyers love trouble, but I want to say that we are also peacemakers. We are trained not to fear conflict, but wisdom tells us that not every fight requires fire, we should bring settlement,” she said.
“Pinnacle Tree Attorneys is here to change the narrative. We don’t have to turn society upside down or instigate crises because we are lawyers. This theme reflects what society needs and where justice should be headed. When people carry wounds that justice cannot heal, we use ADR.
“Disputes are part of life, but what matters is how they are handled. The beauty of ADR is that it gives the peace litigation cannot provide. It is mostly ego and pride that take people to court over matters that can be resolved amicably.
“As we celebrate our third anniversary, we dedicate ourselves to service to humanity. We have resolved disputes that litigation could not settle. We want to lead a team of lawyers who will prove that the courtroom is not the ultimate place for settlement. At Pinnacle, peace is our product,” she declared.
Stop taking everything to police, try ADR – Anambra Commissioner
