ABEOKUTA, Ogun State — The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has commissioned a purpose-built Multi-Door Courthouse at Idi-Oke/Igbesa, a facility donated by the Olu of Idi-Oke Kingdom, Oba Saheed Ifalohun Odusanya, to mark his tenth coronation anniversary.
Justice Dipeolu commended the monarch for what she described as a rare commitment to building institutions of justice, noting that the project represented more than the completion of a building. She described it as the realisation of a vision that justice should be accessible, affordable, timely, and responsive to the needs of the people.
“There are kings who build palaces, monuments and markets. But there are very few kings who choose to build institutions of justice. Such kings understand that peace is the foundation upon which every other development rests,” she said.
The Chief Judge traced the monarch’s history of supporting the judiciary, recalling that the Idi-Oke/Igbesa Magistrates’ Court was commissioned through the king’s generosity in June 2020, followed by High Court I and High Court II in 2021 and 2023 respectively. She noted that she had personally commissioned the multi-door courthouse as a temporary facility within the magistrates’ court premises in November 2021, with Wednesday’s event marking its transition into a dedicated, purpose-built home.
Justice Dipeolu explained the philosophy behind the multi-door courthouse system, stressing that not every dispute requires full litigation. “The highest form of justice is not always found in the pronouncement of a judgment after a contested trial. Quite often, it is found in a resolution that preserves relationships, restores understanding between parties and brings disputes to a mutually acceptable conclusion,” she said.
Multi-door courthouses offer alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including mediation, conciliation, arbitration, and negotiation, as options to traditional litigation. The Ogun State Multi-Door Courthouse was initially launched on 10 February 2017 to provide further access to justice for the people of Ogun State. The facility handles various case types, including tenancy, land disputes, loan recovery, partnership disputes, child custody, malicious damage, probate matters, assault, breach of peace, stealing, and obtaining money under false pretense.
The Chief Judge linked the facility’s location to the rapid economic growth of the Igbesa-Agbara-Idi-Oke corridor, describing it as one of the fastest-growing industrial and commercial axes in Nigeria. “Where commerce thrives, disputes inevitably arise. The presence of this facility therefore ensures that businesses, investors, residents and institutions within this axis have access to a modern and efficient dispute resolution mechanism. This is not merely an investment in justice. It is an investment in economic development and community peace,” she said.
Justice Dipeolu also disclosed that a sixth multi-door courthouse, located in Ilaro, is now ready for commissioning, signaling the continued expansion of alternative dispute resolution services across the state. The Ogun State Judiciary has been a leader in the adoption of ADR mechanisms in Nigeria, being the first and only state to have five multi-door courthouses.
She held up the project as a model of public-private-community partnership in the administration of justice, urging other communities across Ogun State to emulate the example. Ogun State is the only state where community leaders and traditional rulers donate court buildings, bringing justice closer to the people.
