As part of measures aimed at ensuring that maritime businesses thrive without litigation, the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN) has called on stakeholders in the sector to embrace arbitration for dispute resolution rather to seek court injunction, which would lead to breakdown of business relationship among parties involved in the process.
As part of measures aimed at ensuring that maritime businesses thrive without litigation, the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN) has called on stakeholders in the sector to embrace arbitration for dispute resolution rather to seek court injunction, which would lead to breakdown of business relationship among parties involved in the process.
President of MAAN , Dr. Omo Eboh said yesterday, in Lagos at the opening of the 7th edition of practical maritime dispute resolution seminar, that it is a programme organised every year to fulfill the aims and objectives of setting up the association.
Omo -Eboh reiterated that MAAN is aims to enlighten maritime industry players on settling dispute in the maritime industry.
"Dispute are inevitable in business relationship and if you enter into a business relationship in the maritime industry, you should always prepare that someday there could be dispute and arrange to handle the dispute properly resolves through the maritime arbitration association of Nigeria as against going to court and getting stuck in the litigation for too long which can drag on for years without end and can lead to breakdown of business relationship with the person you are in that relationship with", he said.
He said this year’ edition will be attended by quality participants and resource persons, including, the Justice of the Court of Appeal , eight judges of the High Court of Lagos State, two judges of the Federal High Court and eminent personalities from the maritime sector.
He assured stakeholders in the maritime sector of effective communication from the association, stressing the need for continuous collaboration between the players and MAAN.
The MAAN front man also lauded effort of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in supporting the association to achieve its aims of organising the two-day programme.
Secretary of MAAN , Barrister Osuala Nwagbara on his part said that the association has gained appreciation from the maritime sector.
According to him, maritime arbitration is cost-effective, time-saving and more confidential.
Nwagbara said the association's 2015 conference would be looking at the challenges facing the sector with a view to proffering solutions.
He added that:“One of the issues we are looking at this year is what we call ‘Anti-suit injunction’ and related issues how they also impact on arbitration.
“If we agreed between us as business people to have our dispute resolved by arbitration, would it be right for one of the parties to go to court to institute an action?
“Apart from raising objection in the court, what other way can you stop such a party from taking a dispute that would normally be resolved though the maritime arbitration window to the conventional courts.
“These are some of the issues that we are going to look at.
Nwagbara said that the conference would also use a “mood and mock trial system’’ to practically demonstrate how maritime arbitration functioned.
He said the practical session would help participants to a have better understanding of how arbitration functioned in real life issues.
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