The Court's Assessment
73. With regard to the objection by the Respondent that the matter is pending before the
Commission, the Court notes that the Applicant in the present matter is the
Commission, which seised the Court in conformity with Article 5(1) of the Protocol.
74. Having seised the Court, the Commission decided not to examine the matter itself. The
seisure of the Court by the Commission signifies in effect that the matter is no longer
pending before the Commission, and there is therefore no parallel procedure before the
Commission on the one hand and the Court on the other.
75. The Respondent's objection to the admissibility on the grounds that this matter is
pending before the Commission is thus dismissed.
ii.
Objection with respect to the failure to undertake preliminary
examination of its Admissibility
Respondent's Objection
76. The Respondent submits that the Court has failed to conduct a preliminary
examination of the admissibility of the Application by virtue of Articles 50 and 56 of
the Charter and Rule 40 of the Rules, and that adverse orders should not have been
issued against it without being given an opportunity to be heard .
Applicant's Submission
77. The Applicant submits that the Application meets all the admissibility requirements
provided under Article 56 of the Charter, as it was filed before the Court pursuant to
Article 5(1) (a) of the Protocol against a State Party both to the Protocol and the
Charter, for alleged violations that occurred within the Respondent's territory. The
Applicant furthe r states that Article 50 of the Charter does not apply to this
Application since it relates to admissibility procedures for "Communications from
States", whereas the instant Application is not such an Application. The Applicant
maintains that the Respondent has been accorded an opportunity to be heard at the
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