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the latter that led to and forms the basis of the former. The criminal case was
already considered by the JCPC, the court of last resort, which restored the
conviction and sentence. The Complainant attempted to have the criminal and
disciplinary cases re-opened in light of alleged exculpatory evidence and
underhand machinations that allegedly led to his conviction and subsequent
disbarment. Those attempts were dismissed on account of the issue of litigating in
person in respect of which an appeal to the JCPC the apex court was declined.
90. In the circumstances, the Commission considers that the Complainant exhausted
local remedies in respect of the criminal case and the disciplinary action taken
against him as a barrister. The rest of the issues are incidental to the criminal case,
the disciplinary action and the issue of the right to litigate in person. Accordingly,
the Commission is inclined to find, and holds that for all purposes the
Complainant exhausted local remedies. It must be observed however, that in so
finding, the Commission does not purport to prejudge the merits of the issues at
hand. The issue as to whether provisions of the Charter have been violated will be
considered subsequently at the merit stage, if the Communication satisfies the
remaining admissibility conditions.
91. Regarding Article 56(6) of the Charter which requires that communications must
be submitted within reasonable time after exhaustion of local remedies, the
Commission recalls its jurisprudence that in determining whether a complaint has
been submitted within reasonable time, each case has to be considered on its own
circumstances.17 In the present Communication the critical point at which local
remedies were exhausted is 12 July 2013 when the JCPC, the apex judicial authority
for the Respondent State, declined to entertain the relevant appeal by the
Complainant. It is about two months from 12 July 2013 to 18 September 2013 when
the Complainant submitted the present Communication. The Commission is
satisfied that a period of two is within reasonable time and accordingly this
Communication satisfies Article 56(6) of the Charter.
92. Lastly, whereas the Complainant first attempted to submit the complaint to the
African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, the latter declined jurisdiction as
the Respondent State has not ratified the necessary instrument to be impleaded
before that Court. There is nothing suggesting that he approached an.o
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Phone: (220) 230 4361 Fax: (220
Email: au-banjul@africa
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