By Suleiman Shehu
A Charted Arbitrator and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Tunde Busari, has advocated training in arbitration practice for lawyers and judges to attract investors into the country.
Busari , made the called at the 15th Annual General Conference (AGC) of Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN) in Ibadan on Friday.
The Senior Advocate, who was the guest lecturer at the occasion, said more lawyers and judges needed to be trained in the practice and procedure of arbitration for them to know what to do when such matters are brought before them.
“Arbitration brings investments. If Nigeria is arbitration-friendly, more investors will come because they know that the country and its judicial system support arbitration.
“If there is any dispute, they will have a good platform to administer and conduct arbitration the way it should be conducted,” he said.
According to him, more investors will come to the country if arbitration is practised and used as an alternative to litigation, thus making Nigeria’s trade, commerce and gross domestic product (GDP) to thrive.
Busari further stated that arbitration offered speedy dispensation of dispute and reduce costs, compared with what obtained in the regular court.
In his remarks at the occasion, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, said that as a Muslim, he would continue to be a proud ambassador of Islam.
Fagbemi, SAN, who was represented by a former Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adebayo Ojo, SAN, promised not to disappoint MULAN and Nigerians in general in the discharge of his duties.
He called on members of the association not to hesitate to provide necessary advice that would enhance the advancement of the country.
Also speaking, the MULAN National President, Dr Kazeem Olaniyan, said that no development could take place in the midst of disunity.
According to him, it is the responsibility of Nigerians to look for ways of ensuring unity for the development of the country.
Olaniyan said that Islam has provisions and guidelines for good governance, development and unity, adding that religion must be used as a unified factor, and not to disunite the country.
He said that at the end of the conference, MULAN would have been able to send strong message to all adherents of peace, justice and fairness that the Islamic model of seeking for political power was best for Nigeria, for peace and development.
Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, called on participants to show interest in arbitration practice.
Egbewole, who is the Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin, said that there are lots of opportunities in arbitration, which lawyers should be interested in tapping. (NAN/vitalnewsngr.com)
