publication of false news and uttering seditious words. On the 18" of August 2008, the 3" applicant was convicted on all counts and sentenced to a GMD 250, 000 fine to be paid within two hours or four years’ imprisonment with hard labour on default of payment. Upon satisfying the conditions, she fled the Gambia for fear of being re-arrested as this has been the case with other journalists. Statute of limitations are laws promulgated by legislative bodies, local, national or international which sets the maximum time within which legal proceedings may be initiated or commenced. Where the period stipulated in a limitation statute lapses, a claim for reparation for the wrong suffered may not be filed and where filed is liable to be struck out as having become statute barred. In that case, a litigant is said to have lost his right of action despite the existence of a course of action, thus depriving a Court the jurisdiction to entertain the claim. Article 9(3) of the Supplementary Protocol of this Court provides that: ' "Any action by or against a community institution or any member of the Community shall be statute barred after three (3) years from the date when the right of action arose," Article 9(3) of the English Version of the Supplementary Protocol of this Court has on the face of it placed a three year limitation period on all actions brought against a Member State of the Community or against the Community 20 or any of its