Political Rights (ICCPR); Article 11(1) of UDHR Article and Part N, Article 6(e) of the Fair Trial Guidelines; iii. The right to defence, protected by Article 7(1)(c) of the Charter read together with Article with Article 4(1) African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), Article14(1)(3)(a) of the ICCPR; Part A, Article 2(e), (h), (i), and Part N, Article 1(a) of the Fair Trial Guidelines. III. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT 8. The Application, together with a request for provisional measures dated 13 December 2021, was filed on 23 December 2021. It was served on the Respondent State on 27 May 2022 for its responses to the Request for provisional measures and to the main Application, respectively, within 15 and 90 days. 9. Upon the expiry of the deadlines, respectively on 15 June 2022 and 31 August 2022, the Respondent State did not file any response. 10. On 7 March 2023, the Registry reminded the Respondent State that the time-limit to respond to the Application had elapsed, and the Court would proceed to give a judgment in default should it fail to file the Response within 45 days of receipt of the notification, as provided under Rule 63(1) of the Rules. 11. At the expiry of the above stated time which was on 24 April 2023, the Respondent State did not file the Response as requested. 12. Pleadings were closed on 28 June 2023, and the Parties were duly notified thereof. 4