The Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse

The Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) was established on June 11, 2002, as a public-private partnership between the High Court of Justice, Lagos State and the Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG), a non-profit private organization. The overarching objective of The LMDC is to facilitate dispute resolution within the Nigerian Justice Sys... tem. It is the first court-connected Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre in Africa. Inspired by the "multi-door" concept enunciated by Harvard Law Professor, Frank Sander at the Pound Conference, The LMDC founder, Kehinde Aina, a partner in the law firm of Aina, Blankson & Co., established the Negotiation & Conflict Management Group (NCMG) in 1996 as the non -governmental organization to advocate the expansion of ADR in Nigeria and midwife the introduction of the Multi-Door Courthouse concept into the Nigerian Judicial System. His speech at the official launch of the LMDC on Tuesday, June 11, 2002, is most instructive of the purpose underlying its establishment. He commented: The road to the events of today began in 1995. Having spent most of my early practice years in courtrooms, it became crystal clear to me that the justice system was in desperate need of an overhaul. I envisioned a comprehensive justice centre where both the consumers and providers will be collaborators and co-creators of a streamlined and agile process. I dreamt of a faster case flow management system where parties are not left impoverished and embittered; I fantasized about a legal regime where an apology would be seen as a useful tool rather than an admission of guilt; a system where disputants could problem-solve and search for common ground within the backdrop of integrity, understanding and human decency. My dream was to create a nexus for peace, fairness and an effective administration of justice in our dear country, Nigeria. We are on the path of fulfilling this dream! A high point in the existence of the LMDC came in May 2007 when the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse Law was enacted. This ...Read More