SEC Harps   On Alternative Dispute Resolution In Capital Market 

The Securities and Exchange Commission says it was ready  to collaborate with relevant alternative dispute resolution professionals as a  tool. to ensuring effective dispute resolution in the capital market.

Mr. Lamido Yuguda, the Director General of the SEC, said this is key in sustaining investment in the capital market.

The SEC DG who spoke  stated this when the Abuja Chapter of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) led by its chairman, Mr Sola Ephraim-Oluwanuga held a meeting with him in Abuja Wednesday, stated that the need for a veritable dispute resolution mechanism has long been recognised in the capital market.

He said that traditional litigious and adversarial dispute resolution mechanism has fallen short of achieving its purpose, adding that investment in the sector would suffer if disputes among investors are not well resolved.

He added: ” The whole nature of the market is that people come together to make investments. But along the line, something happens and the same people actually fall out.And the problem with investment is that if the true parties to an investment fall out, investment falls. We understand that both parties usually cling to their positions but there is a superior situation which could benefit both parties. This is where an arbitrator is needed to actually bring them to that position. And that arbitrator, who is seen as independent, performs his professional duty by talking to the parties.”

He said the visit by the members of the institute could not have come at a better time, assuring that the commission partnering with institute whose members are specialised in area of dispute resolution is actually highly beneficial to both the SEC and practitioners in the capital market.

Earlier, Mr. Ephraim-Oluwanuga, the CIArb Chairman, said the institute was desirous of partnering with SEC to deepen the access to justice in the Securities Industry.

He said CIArb has trained competent International arbitrators with demonstrable experience in capital market issues, adding that the institute can also assist the SEC in training and capacity building of its personnel.