Maritime law has developed – CJ

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher said in Abuja on Tuesday that “maritime law has witnessed gradual improvement in its development''.
Musdapher said this while declaring open the 12th Maritime Seminar for Judges organised jointly by Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI)
He said it had become imperative that the maritime seminar for judges must keep pace with this continuing evolution to adequately address problems militating against the development of the industry

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher said in Abuja on Tuesday that “maritime law has witnessed gradual improvement in its development''.
Musdapher said this while declaring open the 12th Maritime Seminar for Judges organised jointly by Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI)
He said it had become imperative that the maritime seminar for judges must keep pace with this continuing evolution to adequately address problems militating against the development of the industry
The chief justice recalled that since the first joint seminar was held in 1995, both organisations had remained fully committed to and actively involved in the planning and facilitation of the maritime seminar as the seminar had certainly become a prime event on the calendar of both organisations.
According to him, the seminar provides an avenue for judges, legal practitioners, law pundits and other professionals as well as other stakeholder in the maritime industry to come together to interact, compare notes and brainstorm on myriad of contemporary issues bordering on maritime law.
“This encourages the exchange of ideas and information best practices prevailing in the maritime industry the world over,’’ the chief justice said.
Musdapher said, “undoubtedly, maritime law is a complex and highly specialised, yet commercially important area of the law particularly in our rapidly globalizing world.’’
He said it was imperative to regularly organize seminars and other fora of this nature on a sustained basis for judicial officers, maritime law practitioners and other stakeholders in the maritime industry.
 Musdapher added that as often the case in all spheres of all human endeavour, disputes frequently arise., adding that “such disputes may be between shippers, ship owners or other stakeholders on issues such as pollution, arrest of ships, loss and or damage to cargoes, incomplete shipping of agreed tonnage’’.
Even the outright disappearance of entire consignments is not strange in international shipping, he said.
According to him such cases require expert knowledge on the peculiar laws judges and lawyers should apply to specific cases in order to reach an informed and amicable resolution.
 I am happy to say that the judiciary is up to the task as we have some of the most brilliant minds in the world serving on the Bench in Nigeria, he added.
 The Chief Justice said that in Nigeria, cases involving shippers and providers of shipping services, and indeed on other areas of the law, tend to become long, drawn-out, arduous and sometimes, inconclusive, leaving the parties feeling disillusioned and dis-satisfied with the late outcome.
Therefore, in resolving disputes, whether through the conventional court processes or by means of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), I urge all judges to dispense cases timely, as it is wisely said that justice delayed is justice denied, Musdapher said.
 He commended the management of the NSC led by Capt Adamu Biu for their unwavering commitment in the discharge of their statutory obligations and the management of the NJI under the leadership of Justice Umaru Eri for living up to expectations by working assiduously toward fulfilling the statutory mandate of the institute.