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.”