Edo Committed To Supporting Citizens’ Rights, Mediation Centres

The Attorney General of Edo State and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Samson Osagie, has said that since its inception, the Citizens Meditation Centre has received and attended to 634 civil matters, covering disputes including inheritance conflicts, matrimonial cases, employer-employee disagreements, landlord-tenant issues, property disputes, inter-communal clashes, and matters involving government entities.
Osagie disclosed this at a press briefing on the activities and achievements of the Citizens’ Meditation Centre (CMC) and the Citizens’ Rights Department (CRD) in Benin City, Edo State capital, where he said 70 percent of these cases have been resolved amicably thereby preventing unnecessary litigation.
He said, “The CMC has engaged in consistent sensitization campaigns through radio, television, social media, workshops, and public rallies.
“These efforts have increased citizens’ awareness of mediation as a viable alternative to litigation and have encouraged peaceful dispute resolution across Edo State.
“The Centre was created to serve as a platform for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), offering free mediation services to indigent and vulnerable citizens who may otherwise struggle to navigate the formal justice system.
“Through its operations, the Centre has facilitated quick and amicable resolutions of disputes, thereby reducing the backlog of cases in our courts and mitigating potential social unrest.
“The Citizens’ Mediation Centre and the Citizens Rights Centres have played indispensable roles in promoting peace, justice, and social harmony in Edo State.
“By providing free and quick access to justice, we have significantly reduced the burden on our formal judicial system and contributed to a more cohesive society.”
CMC was established in 2018.