REGARDING whether the Native Court (MAN) is still relevant, Idang stressed that it is but that it must be accompanied by reform.
He said its weaknesses are on implementation. Relevance, he said ultimately depends on its ability to adapt to the changing times without sacrificing the principles of custom.
He said many disputes are not suitable to be settled by the Civil Court particularly those involving custom, family and community issues. Customary issues, he said, is also difficult to prove formally in the civil system.
“MAN is best suited to handle the native court because such cases are better understood in their cultural context and the reality of the local community, so as to avoid prolonged conflict,” he added.
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