CUSTOMARY ARBITRATION IN NIGERIA

Edited By: Asykobi Customary Arbitration is arbitration in dispute founded on the voluntary submission of the parties to the decision of the arbitrators who are either chiefs or elders of the community. It is uniquely distinct from arbitration under the statute.At the centre of customary arbitration is the settlement of disputes by one or more arbiters in a community in accordance to the customs of the society with the aim of retaining the relationship between the parties and peace in the community. This system of dispute resolution has been in operation in Nigeria for years before the advent of the British colonial administration introduced the Common Law System in the 19 th Century. Even with the introduction of the common law, customary arbitration is still used today for settling of disputes such as title to landed properties within the communities. Customary arbitration is an exception to Section 1 (1) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act which states t...