Ondo State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019

1. The High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2012 and all hitherto existing Rules and Practice Directions are hereby revoked.

Citation and commencement

2. These Rules maybe cited as the Ondo State High Court(Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and shall come into force on the………. day of…………… , 2019

Objectives and savings

3. The overriding objectives of these Rules shall be to:

a) promote just determination of every civil proceeding;

b) secure simplicity in procedure and fairness;

c) achieve efficient and speedy dispensation of justice;

d) promote amicable resolution of disputes and the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) mechanism.

2. The Court shall enhance and promote the overriding objectives by actively managing cases.

Active Case Management includes:

a) directing the parties to use ADR mechanism where the Court considers it appropriate and facilitating the use of such procedure by referrals to the Multi-Door Court House.

b) assisting the parties to settle the whole or part of the dispute.

c) fixing timetables or otherwise controlling the progress of each suit.

d) giving such other directions to ensure that the trial of each suit proceeds quickly and efficiently.

3. Parties and their Counsel shall help the Court to further the overriding objectives of these Rules.

4. a) These Rules shall not apply to any cause or matter part-heard on the date when these Rules come into operation.

b) Where an action is filed and no further step has been taken other than the filing, other subsequent procedures in the action shall be guided by these Rules.

c) In all other cases where causes or matters are pending, the Court shall give such directions as may be just and expedient to ensure conformity with the requirements of these Rules.