Jonathan Want Arbitration Contracts Between FG And International Organization Done In Nigeria -By Tife Owolabi

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has faulted a situation where arbitrations for the contracts entered by the Federal Government with International Organizations are always done in United Kingdom.

He therefore charged the bodies responsible for arbitration or resolving disputes in the country to work hard to ensure arbitration for the government contracts are being done in the country for proper understanding.

The former President stated this on Saturday, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital during the launch of the book, titled “Arbitration and Dispute Resolution in Nigeria”, written by King Collins Daniel, the Traditional Ruler of Abureni kingdom, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Jonathan, explained that solving dispute outside court room is short, less expensive and make people more bounded morally.

According to him: “Let me use this unique opportunity to charge the bodies in this country that are responsible for either arbitration or resolving issues to work hard to ensure that arbitrations are done in Nigeria.

“Because all the contracts the Nigeria government entered with international Organizations, arbitration are always done in United Kingdom, can’t we do some of these arbitrations in Nigeria?

“I don’t know why it must be United Kingdom, why it must be outside Nigeria, I think we need to work hard, so that some of these things will be done here in Nigeria.

“As non lawyers, we look at issues of resolving disputes in two different ways, one that take place in court room and one that take place outside the court room.

“We think that society is so complex, going to court for judges to settle our disputes don’t solve our problems, because judges decide based on the facts presented to them, that is why people still get back home and start fighting.

“More especially issues like land cases and Chieftaincy cases, so I believe solving disputes outside the court room will be a better and shorter way than going through court processes,” he said.

The author of the book and Olila-Ebhugh of Abureni kingdom, King Daniel, said he uses his experience as legal practitioner, law teacher and a traditional ruler to write the book in order to help the society on how to resolve issues properly and permanently.

According to him, dispute resolution is a key because every society more than one person there is bound to be dispute and the way the dispute is resolved to the satisfaction of every party bring lasting peace in the society.

In his speech, King Charles Owaba, King Charles Owaba, the Paramount Ruler of Ogbia Kingdom, said that the traditional institution is the arbitration and dispute resolution in Nigeria.

He commended the author for putting pen and book together to come up with such work, to settle dispute without the court.

Tife Owolabi
Journalist
Niger Delta
@tifeowolabi