Get to Know Us
Who We Are
The Edo State Multi-door Courthouse (ESMDC) is a Court-connected Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre that offers a variety of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes. The goal of the ESMDC is to serve as a vital complement to the existing Litigation and Justice delivery frame work in the Edo State Judiciary, positioned to project and offer to the general populace enhanced, timely, cost effective, and user friendly route to Justice.
The ESMDC offers a wide range of options from Mediation, Conciliation, Negotiation, Arbitration to Early Neutral Evaluation.
The ESMDC also offers Meditative-Conciliation, Expert determination, and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) utilizing cutting edge information technology to meet the current fast changing and evolving judicial landscape.
To set a standard of excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
To supplement the available options for Justice delivery through providing enhanced, timely, cost effective, and user friendly access to Justice.
Our mandate is to create peaceful co-existence and enhance economic development for the citizens of Edo State through effective Justice Delivery.
To enhance access to justice by providing alternative mechanisms to supplement litigation in the resolution of disputes.
Our Story
On 29th October, 2015, the former Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice C. O. Idahosa (Rtd), inaugurated a Steering Committee, headed by Hon. Justice J. O. Okeaya-Inneh to work out the modalities for the establishment of a Multi Door Courthouse, a court connected ADR Centre, for Edo State Judiciary.
The other members of the committee were:
1. Mrs. Patricia Iyomon (NBA Benin Branch Chairman)
2. Mrs. Franca Oghoator (Chief Magistrate)
3. Barrister Dele Edokpayi Esq
4. Barrister Oyekanmi Idode Adewoye Esq
5. Barrister Johnson Agbakogba Esq
The Committee worked assiduously with other organizations with experience and proven track record in dispute resolution such as the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC). The Committee worked tirelessly in the area of infrastructural presence, human resources, capacity building and legal frame work, including drawing up a draft bill for a law to establish the Edo State Multi-door Court House.
On Friday 20th January, 2017, the Edo State Multi-door Court (ESMDC) was formally inaugurated by Hon. Justice C.O. Idahosa (Rtd). The Practice Directions for ADR Practices was also unveiled. The pioneer director appointed was MARY ENOREDIA ITSUELI (Mrs) who was later called to the Higher Bench as a High Court Judge after serving in the Multidoor Courthouse for 4 years.
A major milestone in the establishment of the ESMDC was the passing into law of the Edo State Multi-Door Court Law 2017 by the Edo State House of Assembly. To steer the overall direction of the ESMDC, the Governing Council was inaugurated on 9th November 2017 with the then Chief Judge, Hon. Justice E. F. Ikponmwen (Rtd) as the first Chairman of the Governing Council of the ESMDC.
The other members of the Council were:-
1. The Hon. Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice E. F. Ikponmwen – Chairman Governing Council
2. Hon. Justice N. Ehigiamusoe – ADR Judge
3. Hon. Justice Okeaya – Inneh – ADR Judge
4. Mrs. M. E. Itsueli – Director, Multi-Door Court House
5. Prof (Mrs.) Yinka Omorogbe – Member
6. Amb. Victor A. A. A. Ojaide – Member
7. Prof (Mrs.) Patricia Itohan Aina – Member
8. Ede Asenoguan Esq – Member
9. Chief Charles U. Edosomwan (SAN) – Member
10. Mrs. Yinka Aroyewun – Member
Over the years the ESMDC has strengthened and built capacity by providing ADR and ODR trainings and regular re-training of its staff and in-house neutrals to provide easier, quicker access and effective justice delivery. In July 2020, the Institute Chartered Mediators and Conciliators organised a two day Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) training for ESMDC Staff, Neutrals and other Mediators. The then Chief Judge, Hon. Justice E. A. Edigin (Rtd) who was in attendance, recognising the enduring benefit of using technology in assisting disputants find solution to their disputes, immediately approved the setting up of the ESMDC website and ODR platform.
The Edo State MultiDoor Court House became the Second in the history of Nigeria to have ALL Her High Court Judges, Magistrates and Area Court Presidents trained and certified in effective justice delivery as Professional Mediators and Conciliators just within 4 years.
Sensitization programmes have also been organized by the ESMDC towards encouraging stakeholders to utilize its services to promote the growth and effective functioning of the justice delivery system through Alternative Dispute Resolution methods.
In response to ADR needs, the ESMDC boasts of a rich panel of neutrals made up of Mediators, Conciliators, Arbitrators, Experts and Judicial Appraisals who are the best practitioners in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution. The first panel of neutrals was inaugurated 19th October 2018.
In the year 2020, while the world stood at a stand still with the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic and the entire judiciary was shut down, the Edo State MultiDoor Court used the tools of technology to administer justice with the practice directions issued by the Hon. Chief Judge/ Chairman of the Governing Council of the ESMDC and was fully functional throughout the lockdown.
The ESMDC had its first ever Settlement Week between 15th – 19th March 2021 to clear the dockets of courts. With the escalation of conflicts within communities, between businesses, banks/customers and family disputes, the ESMDC has come a long way to properly position itself as the MOST SOLEMN MULTI DOOR COURT in Nigeria. The Edo State MultiDoor Court created, designed and launched the first ever Court connected real ODR platform in the history of the largest black nation in the world. The ODR will give ALL persons wherever they are in the world the opportunity to file a matter and seek justice without been physically present and the matter will receive speed and dedicated attention.
This is the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria. Within its existence of less than 5 years, it has truly become and is described as the MOST SOLEMN MULTI DOOR COURT HOUSE in the most Populous Black Nation in the World!