DELTA State Chief Judge, Mrs. Roseline Bozimo, yesterday listed the benefits of the recently introduced High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009.

Bozimo, who spoke at the presentation of the new rules in Asaba, explained that the procedure emphasised the quick dispensation of justice in compliance with the principle of law, that justice delayed is justice denied.

"We are all aware that to the man on the street, no less than the businessman, the courts no longer represent his last hope for having his grievances promptly addressed," she said.

Again, she said that the new rules encourage court-based mediation as reflected in the provisions of Order 29, Rule 1, which states that a court or judge with the consent of the parties may encourage settlement of any matter(s) before it either by arbitration, conciliation, mediation, or any other lawfully recognised method of dispute resolution.

According to her, this is hinged on the premise that the court or judge shall not personally conduct such settlement, which it shall instead refer to appropriate person or institution for amicable resolution within a time frame specified by the court or judge, failing which the proceedings shall resume before the court or judge.

Justice Bozimo said: "By this provision, the court user can no longer view the court as over-bearing as was the position under the 1988 Rules. The judge is now empowered to promote and encourage alternative dispute resolution in the determination of the cases in his court. This no doubt will improve the profile of the court and the face of justice in the manner it is perceived by the public. This has the added benefit of strengthening the integrity of the judiciary."

The Delta Chief Judge explained that the provision of the new rules that promotes court-based mediation, being new to the state's jurisprudence, calls for training and/or re-training of judges who are now assigned the responsibilities previously unknown under the old rules; the court registrar and other support staff; and private lawyers, as well as those in government service, in the skills of mediation and conciliation.

This, according to her, has the benefit of opening a new vista of career for legal practitioners and other interested persons to be trained as Professional Negotiators and Mediators (PNM) as emphasis all over the world now is on the benefits of the multi-door settlement of disputes that leaves former protagonists going away happy and satisfied and thus promoting a peaceful society.

The committee, which was headed by former Chief Judge of the state, (Mrs.) M.A. Okungbowa had former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Chief T.J.O Okpoko (SAN) as a member. Other members of the committee are former Justice F.A. Nwulu, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), Chief Albert Akpomudje (SAN), Chief J.I.Ojeh, Chief Isaac Jemide, Chief V.E. Otomiewo, Chike Onyemenam, A.O.Akpiroroh, C.Omoru, Chief C.O Ogedazi, M.M.Nnamdi, and B.O Odigwe who acted as the secretary.