ABUJA -Grand Patron of One Nation for Asiwaju Support Group, Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government to settle the issue of Biafran nation agitator, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other agitators, out of court through a formidable national committee of arbitration..CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Ndarani, was optimistic that the move will lead to peace, and unity in diversity.
“President Bola Tinubu should consider Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms like arbitration, conciliation and mediation in some of these cases concerning these agitators.
“High profile cases like Kanu’s are best resolved as quickly as possible because they evoke a lot of sentiments.
“Another reason for an expeditious resolution of the matter is because it would begin to heal festering wounds which we can certainly do without at this stage of our nationhood.
“Justice delayed is invariably justice denied” Ndarani said.
He urged President Tinubu to watch out for little foxes that spoil the vine while he is trying to hold Nigeria together as one indivisible nation.
Ndarani said arbitration could equally help in decongesting our courts which are currently bogged down by a lot more matters than they can expeditiously dispose of.
“Indispensable as the role of courts is in the society, the process is usually long drawn out and hence, the need to explore more frequently the option of alternative dispute resolution.
“The sooner we find alternative means of quickly disposing of these worrisome matters the better for the promotion of peace and harmony in our country.
“I will advise the President to look inwards to see how to settle most of these pockets of agitations that have given rise to loss of lives and property.
“Arbitration can bring rest to the East, peace and rest to the wanton killings in the Middle Belt and as well as other parts of the country”, he said.
Ndarani opined that the court may not be the solution of the above matter, if peace must reign in the nation.
“The political atmosphere in Nigeria is tense, tribal and religious issues being championed everyday by some people and quarters who feel marginalized and aggrieved, Ndarani said.
The senior lawyer submitted that section 17 of the Federal High Court Act and section 174 of the 1999 Constitution (as ammended), provide that parties can explore alternative options for both civil and criminal matters.
Ndarani commended the Federal Government for withdrawing the treason matter involving Omoyele Sowore, leader of Revolution Now Movement and a presidential candidate for the 2023 election, and also the terrorism case against Bello Badejo, leader of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
In present times, the SAN said, early resolution of a dispute not only saves valuable time and money for the parties in dispute, but also promotes peace and unity, insisting there is the need to seek for further peace and unity of the nation.
Speaking generally about litigation of matters in courts, the erudite lawyer said “it is clear that some matters drag on interminably, and this has a knock-on effect on the willingness of our people to seek justice in our law courts”.
Ndarani advised that Nigerians should be patient with Tinubu, he met an unjust society, and it is not easy to re-arrange a system that had already collapsed before the advent of his administration.
Nigeria’s problem are the few elites who put their interest on the first line charge.
“I advise the President to avoid them and explore all the mechanism to settle for peace of Nigeria rather than seeking for prosecution.
“If Nigeria is peaceful, Tinubu will do well for the nation” Ndarani said. END.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>