Evaluating the Multi-Door Courthouse System in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Prospects

It is widely believed that the effectiveness of any judicial system is gauged by its aptitude to provide timely and appropriate j'ustice to parties in a dispute. Unfortunately, the Nigerian Justice System cannot claim such effectiveness because it is perceived to be overburdened, sluggish, expensive, and complex. Faced with this unfavorable situation, many Nigerians (particularly the poor and vulnerable), are unable to successfully obtain justice through the formal system. Consequently, this continues to undermine public confidence in the Nigerian judicial system. In response to the foregoing, the justice system is being reformed, and a major initiative incorporated to this end is the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and the establishment of Multi-Door Courthouses (MDC) to supplement the work of conventional courts. Presently, sixteen (out of 36 States), and all the federal courts in the country have embraced this dispute resolution strategy. Yet, despite these efforts, there seems to be no significant improvement from the status quo. This article illuminates the factors militating against the seamless operation of a viable MDC system in Nigeria. The article first considers the importance of access to justice in a democratic society, while reflecting oTrthe basic problems with the justice system in Nigeria. It then considers the concept of Multi-door Courthouse as a sustainable response to these problems, before drawing on current empirical research to highlight the successes and challenges of the MCD initiative in Nigeria so far. The article concludes by proffering solutions