COVID-19 ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) INITIATIVE (CADRI)

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), also called “Appropriate Dispute Resolution” is a general term used to define a set of mechanisms and techniques aimed at resolving disputes without resort to litigation. These ADR mechanisms are particularly of significance in a challenging environment such as ours, where the wheels of justice move slowly, as they improve access to justice within the civil justice system

Visioners’ Statement

Funmi Roberts, LL.M, FCIArb.

Funmi Roberts, LL.M, FCIArb.

Tunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, FCIArb.

Tunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, FCIArb.

Towards the end of 2019, an audacious and non-discerning virus made its debut in Wuhan, China, bringing with it a disease christened COVID-19, which quickly transcended from being an epidemic, into a global pandemic. Its spread has forced governments worldwide to impose stringent but imperative measures which curtailed civil liberties, with unprecedented global socio-economic consequences, causing the entire world into a recession even greater than that caused by the financial crises of 2008.

The internet is now replete with articles and legal advice, solicited and unsolicited, about the rights of corporate and non-corporate entities. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged corporate directors and top management in ways hitherto unprecedented, causing them to turn attention to optimisation of cost, which in turn may lead to staff rationalisation. Thus, contractual due process may be over-looked. Supply chains have been disrupted and, parties unable to fulfil their obligations under tenancies and leases, issues relating to the use of personal data will rise to the fore. Many companies face bankruptcy, insolvency; consumer spending is now significantly curtailed, thereby impacting on the ability of the retailers to pay their suppliers and so on down the value chain. Also amplified are uncertainties around the effect of existing force majeure clauses in the face of COVID-19. In all these, lawyers would be at the frontline of advising clients about their rights and obligations, with instructions given to enforce rights through litigation. New claims and novel arguments would be brought before the courts for adjudication, with the ever-bludgeoning dockets of judges growing even more exponentially, even as the resources available to deal with them remain inadequate.

No one would be affected by any dispute that emerges as a result of any action or inaction taken in response to COVID-19 who would not have also suffered personal and economic losses.

Should those who have to enforce their rights as a result of COVID-19 related circumstance be subjected to the analogue vagaries of our anachronistic and slow-wheeled civil justice system?

It is this question that birthed the COVID-19 ADR Initiative (CADRI). It is a drive to improve access to justice so that the pains and aches of COVID-19 does not have to breach known boundaries and incur into the justice delivery space in the dawn of the new reality.Anecdotal evidence has shown that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is now fully part of our justice delivery system, with several institutions offering ADR-related services and multi-door courthouses established all over the country. If ever there was a time for our ADR skills to be put to use, it is now and this is an open invitation to Nigeria-based and other ADR practitioners world wide to contribute to the fight against the effect of COVID-19 by joining the CADRI Panel of Neutrals. At this time, what the world requires are simple, cost-effective and efficient dispute resolution processes, and this is what CADRI seeks to offer.

To read more about CADRI, CLICK HERE
To sign the CADRI Pledge CLICK HERE
To apply to serve on the CADRI Panel of Neutrals CLICK HERE.

Now, more than ever is the time for everyone to work collaboratively to stem the pains, and damaging effect of  COVID-19. Now, is the time to make dispute resolution a shared burden, while acknowledging the good embedded in the emergence of the pandemic, because COVID-19 has also acted as an accelerant for the reform of our civil justice system in a way not envisaged a few months ago.

Funmi Roberts

Funmi Roberts

Principal, Funmi Roberts & Co

Tunde Fagbohunlu SAN

Tunde Fagbohunlu SAN

Partner Aluko & Oyebode and Chairman of the Board, Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre.

Prof. Alero E. Akeredolu

Prof. Alero E. Akeredolu

Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan

Current CADRI Administering Collaborating Partners

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre

Contact Info

Tel: +234 908 290 2999
info@laciac.org
www.laciac.org

Oyo State Multi-Door Courthouse

Oyo State Multi-Door Courthouse

Contact Info

International Center for Arbitration & Mediation Abuja

International Center for Arbitration & Mediation Abuja

Contact Info

Tel: +234 803 341 7157
info@icama.com
www.icama.com

For inquiries on becoming a CADRI collaborating partner, kindly send a message to: cadri.ng2020@gmail.com

To become a Collaborating Partner, CLICK HERE

Thoughts & Insights

CADRI Launch

CADRI Launch

Thursday, 4th June, 2020 was a memorable day as we officially launched the COVID 19 Alternative Dispute Resolution Initiative (CADRI). We received considerable support from prominent members of the legal profession, other various professional bodies and media houses...

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CADRI’s overriding Vision is to support sustainable economic growth in Nigeria by assisting businesses to overcome challenges in dealing with COVID-19 related commercial and contractual disputes; with a Mission to provide a platform for access to speedy and affordable dispute resolution services within the civil justice system.