19. By Note Verbale dated 8 August 2023, the Secretariat forwarded to the Respondent State, the submissions of the Complainant on Admissibility and Merits of Communication and informed it that in accordance with Rule 116(2) of the Rules of Procedure 2020, the Respondent State is requested to forward its observations on the submissions within sixty (60) days of receipt of the notification. 20. By letter dated 6 October 2023, the Respondent State requested for an extension of time (30 days) to submit its arguments on Admissibility and Merits of the Communication. 21 . By Note Verbale dated 6 October 2023, the Secretariat informed the Respondent State that in accordance with Rule 98 of the Rules of Procedure 2020, its request for an extension of time to forward your submissions on Admissibility and Merits within thirty (30) days in relation to Communication has been granted. 22. By Letter dated 6 October 2023, the Se~retariat informed the Complainant that the Respondent State has requested thirty (30) days extension of time to submit its arguments and evidence on Admissibility and Merits, which has been granted, in accordance with Rule 98 of the Rules oLProcedure 2020. 23. By Note Verbale dated 16 November 2023, the Respondent State forwarded its arguments on Admissibility of the Communication. 24. By Note Verbale dated 8 February 2024, the Secretariat informed the Respondent State that the,Secretariat received its submissions on Admissibility only and not on the Merits. The Secretariat referred to Rule 116 (2) of the Commission's Rules of Procedure 2020, which requires litigants to submit observations on both Admissibility and Merits. The Secretariat further informed the Respondent State that in line with Rule 98(2) of the Rules of Procedure 2020, the Respondent State has been granted an extension of time of thirty (30) days from the date of notification to submit its observations on the Merits of this Communication, and failure to do so would warrant the Commission to adopt a default decision based on the information before it. 25. By letter dated 8 February 2024, the Secretariat informed the Complainant that in line with Rule 98(2) of the Rules of Procedure (2020), the Respondent State was granted suo motu an additional thirty (30) days from the date of notification, to file its observations on the Merits of this Communication. 26. By Note Verbale dated 7 March 2024, the Respondent State informed the Secretariat that it is not in a position to address the Merits of the Communication, as the Merits have never been served before the Courts in the Respondent State, and the matter is still pending before the High Court. 27. By letter Note Verbale dated 11 March 2024, the Secretariat ac the Note Verbale from the Respondent State dated 7 March 2 - ON '1(j~I , t of ~ ~