THE COURT, - Having regard to the 24 July 1993 Revised Treaty establishing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); - Having regard to the 6 July 1991 and the 19 January 2005 Protocols on the ECOWAS Court of Justice; - Having regard to the 3 June 2002 Rules of Procedure of Procedure of the Court; - Having regard to the 10 December 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); - Having regard to the 27 June 1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR); - Having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); - Having regard to the Initiating Application of the above-cited Applicant, received at the Registry of the Court on 5 April 2017; - Having regard to the Defence of the Republic of Niger received at the Registry of the Court on 28 June 2017; - Having regard to the Reply of the Applicant received on 1 August 2017; - Having regard to the Rejoinder of the Defendant received at the Registry of the Court on 22 November 2017; - Having heard each Party through their respective Counsel; and - Upon deliberation in accordance with the law; Translator : E. Nkansah 2