Litigation is the most common form of dispute resolution in
Nigeria. Its origin is entrenched in the English common law.
Oftentimes, litigation is cumbersome because of ingrained culture
of litigation which results in overflow of cases and delay in
adjudication. This is bad for business and business relationships.
The need for a more efficient dispute resolution process has
contributed to the prominence of Alternative Dispute Resolution
(ADR) mechanisms in recent years.
Nigerian courts through their rules now encourage litigants to
resolve their disputes by adopting ADR mechanisms. The court may,
with the cooperation and consent of the parties, refer the parties
to ADR centers attached to the court system. If successful, the
agreed terms of settlement is adopted as the consent judgment of
the court. If unsuccessful, the matter is referred to court for
adjudication. In adopting ADR processes, the parties may opt for
informal tribunals which use informal mediation
