Overview Of Alternative Dispute Resolution Process In Nigeria

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is simply a process of initiating alternative methods and procedures of resolving a civil or commercial dispute without resorting to litigation, which can be expensive, cumbersome, and time-consuming. ADR processes and litigation cannot run together, it has to be one process at a time. Ideally, ADR is usually resorted to before instituting a court action but subject to the circumstances of each case, it can be resorted to before judgment is given in a matter. If litigation is pending and the parties resort to ADR, the terms of the settlement reached by the parties would be brought to court and entered as a consent judgment.

Alternative Dispute Resolution is regulated by the Arbitration and Conciliation Act (ACA), applicable to the whole federation. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) also gives constitutional backing to ADR in Section 19, which provides for the settlement of international