11.ln a letter dated 17 July 2017 received by the Registry on 19 July 2017, the Applicant filed his rejoinder to the preliminary objections raised by the Respondent State; and on 29 August 2017, the Respondent State submitted its rejoinder on the preliminary objections. 12. On 9 October 2017, the Applicant responded to the rejoinder; and on 14 November 2017, the Respondent State submitted its response to the Applicant's observations on its rejoinder. 13. On 27 November 2017, the Registry notified the parties that the written procedure in lhe case was closed. 14. In a letter dated 6 November 2017 received at the Registry on 11 December 2017, the Applicant alleged further attacks against his person, the use of new methods by the Respondent State to stifle his businesses and, for that reason, solicited a public hearing. He reiterated this prayer on 26 March 2018. 15. On g May 2018, lhe Court held its public hearing, placed the matter under deliberation and allowed the Respondent State leave to file its response to the Applicant's new observations within thirty (30) days. The response was submitted at the Registry on 13 May 2018. 16.ln a letter dated 15 October 2018 received on 16 October 2018, the Applicant brought new allegations on lhe matter before lhe Court, arguing in his written pleadings that while the Court's decision was being awaited by the parties, the State of Benin, by a law dated 2 July 2018, created a special court named "Anti-Economic Crimes and Terrorism Court (hereinafter referred to as "CRIET") to once again hear the case of international drug trafficking in which he was involved. Alleging that this new procedure involves further violations of his rights, the Applicant requested that the Court issue an order requesting the Respondent State to stay its proceedings before CRIET.