On the 31st day of January 2022, The President, Dr. Agada John Elachi, FICMC, FCIArb led a delegation to the office of the President, National Industrial Court Honourable Justice B. B.Kanyip Ph.D. FNIALS.
The delegation comprised of past president, Chief Paddy Njoku, Immediate past president, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, immediate past 1ST vice president, Mrs. Margaret Nwagbo, immediate past registrar, Amb. Segun Ogunyanwo, current deputy registrar, Mr. Babatunde Oyefeso, vice President Exams and Records, Dr. Adeola Adams and distinguished fellows of the institute, Yakubu C. Maikyau, SAN, Paul Harris Ogbole, SAN, Mrs. A. Adeshina, SAN, and Head of training of the Institute, Mercy Akpor, and secretary Abuja Branch of the Institute, Adamma Isamade.
The president thanked Hon. Justice B.B. Kanyip, Ph.D. FNIALS for receiving the delegation from ICMC in his chambers. Dr. Agada John Elachi commended the National Industrial Court as one of the foremost courts in Nigeria to have court hearings online, with rulings and judgements uploaded online as well.
He added that digital processes and tools have in recent times helped to fastrack the speedy resolution of disputes.
The President announced that the ICMC will be launching an Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Platform for E-Mediation and other related practices on the 31st day of March, 2022.
The ICMC ODR platform is geared towards making its services much more accessible to members of the public as well as serve as a one stop shop for ADR practitioners, conflict managers and students.
On this note he invited the National Industrial Court to partner with ICMC to utilize this ODR platform to create publicity for the NICN ADR Centre and its services.
He also made a case for the practice direction of the NICN ADR centre to be amended to allow for walk in cases and the registration of settlements from mediation processes that were conducted outside the auspices of the NICN ADR centre.
Finally he offered the services of members of ICMC under the auspices of the VMS programme to help support the staff of the centre in managing the increased traffic that will arise from such amendments to the practice direction and the mediation rules. He promised to send a detailed proposal on this suggestions to the President of the NICN for consideration.
Chief (Dr.) Paddy Njoku presented copies of the ICMC Strategic Action Plan and the ICMC Story to the President of NICN, Hon. Justice B.B. Kanyip, Ph.D. FNIALS on behalf of the delegation.
