opposing side.” Article 7 of the Charter permits every person who feels that his/her
rights have been violated to bring his/her case before a competent national court.
In the realization of this right, the position or status of the victim or the alleged
perpetrator of the violation are irrelevant and every complainant is entitled to an
effective remedy before a competent and impartial judicial body. It is the duty of all
State Parties to the Charter to ensure that their judicial organs are accessible to
all and that every litigant is accorded ample opportunity to present his/her claim.
98. The Court notes that :
[t]he protection afforded by Article 7 is not limited to the protection of the
rights of arrested and detained persons but encompasses the right of every
individual to access the relevant judicial bodies competent to have their
causes heard and be granted adequate relief.*°
99. The
Court recalls that among
guaranteed
adjudication
the key elements of the right to a fair hearing, as
under Article 7 of the Charter,
of one’s grievances
and
the
is the right of access to a court for
right to appeal
against any
decision
rendered in the process. As against this, the Court notes that article 41(7) of the
Respondent State’s Constitution has ousted the jurisdiction of courts to consider
any
complaint
in relation
to the election
of a presidential
candidate
after the
Electoral Commission has declared a winner. This entails that irrespective of the
nature of the grievance or the merits thereof, as long as the same pertains to the
declaration by the Electoral Commission
of the winner of a presidential election,
no remedy by way of a judicial challenge exists to any aggrieved person within the
Respondent State.
100.
The Court acknowledges that, in appropriate conditions, rights contained in
the Charter may
23 Dino Noca
be limited.
However,
v. Democratic Republic of Congo
as the Court has previously
Communication
No. 286/2004
stated
[2018] ACHPR
October 2012) §186-187.
30 Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum v. Zimbabwe (2006) AHRLR 128 (ACHPR 2006) § 213.
31 Tanganyika Law Society and others v! Tanzania (merits)
27
§ 106.
*
10; (22