Press Release

14 September 2006

Mediation strengthens foreign investor confidence

International expectation is such that any country seeking to attract foreign investment needs to demonstrate that it possesses a good justice delivery system. Foreign confidence can further be boosted if a country possesses credible private dispute resolution services such as arbitration and mediation. The Nigerian government is committed to increasing foreign investor confidence through an effective justice delivery system.

Left to right (Dr Paul Idornigie and Mr Tunde Busari, Special Assistant to The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice)

Mr Tunde Busari, Special Assistant to The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice commented that Nigerian Ministry of Justice has devoted a lot of attention to alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) and that government was focused on increasing investor confidence. Speaking at the ADR Group conference in London this week, Mr Busari disclosed details of the proposed Federal ADR Act (the Bill is currently in draft form). The Bill has adopted provisions similar to the UNCITRAL conciliation model with particular emphasis on the issue of enforceability. The full text of the UNCITRAL conciliation model can be viewed by clicking here http://www.uncitral.org/uncitral/en/uncitral_texts/arbitration/2002 Modelconciliation.html

The Conference ‘ADR and Mediation in Nigeria: Growing Investor Confidence’ was attended by Chief Justices, Judges, Magistrates and senior Nigerian legal figures. The High Commissioner for the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the United Kingdom, His Excellency Dr Christopher Kolade, CON opened the Conference. Sir Brian Neill, immediate past chairman of the Civil Mediation Council delivered the opening conference address.

(Left to right) Richard Schiffer, The High Commissioner for the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the United Kingdom, His Excellency Dr Christopher Kolade, CON opened the Conference. Sir Brian Neill and Michael Lind

ADR Group participated in an interactive workshop in Abuja earlier this year [view press release] and expects to commence the delivery of a bespoke ADR project in Nigeria shortly.

Ends

About ADR Group

ADR Group is the leading professional alternative dispute resolution company in the UK. We are highly regarded both nationally and internationally as an authority in mediation and other cost-effective dispute resolution and prevention techniques spanning commercial, public-sector and family disputes.

The Group delivers a wide range of dispute resolution training programmes through its training faculty, with all programmes recognised and approved by the Law Society of England and Wales and the Bar Council. ADR Group is also recognised as an accredited mediation provider by the Civil Mediation Counsel, the UK’s leading mediation standards organisation.

ADR Group is an organisation supporting initiatives approved by the Department for Constitutional Affairs, the Court Service and various Court based mediation schemes around the country. The Group formed part of the European Commission’s ADR working party on the drafting and implementation of the EU ADR Code and Directive. ADR Group operates an International ADR Development Programme and has delivered mediation awareness and Judicial training programmes funded by the British Embassy, the Department for International Development and the World Bank Group.

For further information contact:

 Katie Vander Woerd

 E: Katie.vander-woerd@adrgroup.co.uk

  T: +44 (0) 117 946 7180.