CJN: ‘If You Want Peace, Don’t Go To Courts

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Nkanu
Onnoghen has said the judiciary system is not designed to ensure
peace.

Justice Onnoghen made this statement while sharing his thoughts
on judicial policy towards arbitration and Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR) on Thursday at the ongoing 2018 Annual Conference
and Gala Nite of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb),
Nigeria Branch.

He said, “Having experienced both sides of formal court system
and the traditional arbitration, I can assure you and I want you to
know that the judicial system is not designed to ensure peace. If
you want peace, don’t go to courts.”

Justice Onnoghen added that this is because in courts “you are
either right or wrong. We determine the rights, liabilities and
responsibilities of parties. It is not designed to ensure
peace.”

However, when parties go into arbitration or settlement outside
of courts, Justice Onnoghen said with “no formalities, you are free
and when you are free, there is understanding.”