Conflict resolution outside court and police is said to be the best way to accelerate peace and development in the society.

 

Baring his mind, the traditional ruler of Umueri Igwe Benneth Emeka advocated establishment of community panel or court by community leaders for settlement of disputes among members of the community, pointing out that the members of the panel should be people of good repute that can make inquiries and give judgement without fear or favour for peace to reign.

Igwe Emeka who listed so many ways by which matters can be resolved amicably outside court and police to include writing petition through the traditional ruler of the community, through Council of elders, town Union or community panel, using his community Umueri as a case study, explained how issues are being settled, from the town union arbitration committee to panel of Council of elders to the last panel of the Monarch, noting that by the time the case will pass through these panels, the matter would be settled amicably and peace will reign.

 

The former Vice Chairman and member Council of Legal Education, Barrister Ada Udobi said there are other alternative means of resolving issues between parties outside police and court which includes local arbitration, mediation, and reconciliation, noting that these alternative means are important as they have informal settings where both parties are free and familiar with.

 

Barrister Udobi stated that the alternative means allow the parties the liberty to express their grievances and ventilate their cases noting that it is cost efficient, faster and serves justice on time.

The legal practitioner said that the advantage of the alternative means of settling conflict or matters over that of police and court is that the judgement is more of reconciliatory in nature and ensures general acceptance.

 

Another legal practitioner and a community Chieftain, Dr Felix Uzor, listed other ways of settling down into dispute outside court including mediation and community intervention through negotiation which he said are more binding, less time consuming, less cumbersome, more flexible and more confident in nature especially on some sensitive issues.

 

He appealed to people to better resolve issues first through community setting for peace and development of their community.

 

 

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