[2011] AfCHPR 37
The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights manifestly lacks jurisdiction to entertain the application brought by Ekollo Moundi Alexandre against Cameroon and Nigeria because neither State has made the declaration under Article 34(6) of the Protocol, which is a prerequisite for the Court to receive direct...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2011] AfCHPR 37
- Parties
- Applicant: Ekollo Moundi Alexandre; Respondent: Republic of Cameroon; Respondent: Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Court
- African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Judgment Date
- 23 September 2011
- Case Number
- Application No. 008/2011
- Procedural Posture
- Human Rights Application / Jurisdictional Decision
- Outcome
- Application dismissed for want of jurisdiction; matter transferred to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
- Judges
- Akuffo VP, Eno R, Guindo J, Mutsinzi J, Ngoepe J, Niyungeko J, Orė J, Ouguergouz J, Ramadhani J, Tambala J
- Legal Topics
- Jurisdiction of Regional Courts, Access to Court by Individuals, Declaration Under Protocol, African Charter Rights
- Source Language
- english
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Ekollo Moundi Alexandre
Applicant
Republic of Cameroon
Respondent
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Human Rights Application / Jurisdictional Decision
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights has jurisdiction to hear an application brought by an individual against Cameroon and Nigeria.
- 2 Whether Cameroon and Nigeria have made the necessary declaration under Article 34(6) of the Protocol to allow direct individual applications.
- 3 Whether the matter should be transferred to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Ratio Decidendi
The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights manifestly lacks jurisdiction to entertain the application brought by Ekollo Moundi Alexandre against Cameroon and Nigeria because neither State has made the declaration under Article 34(6) of the Protocol, which is a prerequisite for the Court to receive direct applications from individuals. Cameroon has not ratified the Protocol, and Nigeria, though a party, has not made the required declaration. Accordingly, the Court cannot proceed to consider the merits of the application. However, pursuant to Article 6(3) of the Protocol, the Court finds it appropriate to transfer the matter to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights for...
Court Disposition
Application dismissed for want of jurisdiction; matter transferred to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Orders
- The Court unanimously declares it manifestly lacks jurisdiction to receive the application filed by Ekollo Moundi Alexandre against Cameroon and Nigeria.
- By majority, the Court orders the transfer of the matter to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
37 paragraphs
UNIAO AFRICANA
## AFRICAN COURT ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RJGHTS
COUR AFRICAINE DES DROITS DE L'HOMME ET DES PEUPLES
IN THE MATTER OF:
## EKOLLO MOUNDI ALEXANDRE *v.* REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON AND FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
APPLICATION No. 008 /2011
DECISION
The Court composed of: Gerard NIYUNGEKO, President; Sophia A. B. AKUFFO, Vice-President; Jean MUTSINZI,Bernard M. NGOEPE, Modibo T. GUINDO, Fatsah OUGUERGOUZ, Duncan TAMBALA, Sylvain ORE- Judges; and Robert ENO- Acting Registrar,
In the matter of:
## EKOLLO MOUNDI ALEXANDRE *v.* REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON AND FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
After deliberations,
makes the following decision:
1. By an application dated 20May 2011 ,EkolloMoundiAiexandre, domiciled in Douala (Cameroon), brought before the Court, a case against the Republic of Cameroon and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, alleging violation of Articles 3, 5, 6, 7 and13(3)of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
2. Pursuant to Article 22 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Establishment of *an* African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol) and Rule 8(2) of the Rules of Court (hereinafter referred to as the Rules), Judge Elsie N. Thompson, a member of the Court, of Nigerian nationality, recused herself.
3. Pursuant to Rule 34(1) of the Rules, the Registry acknowledged receipt of the application in a letter dated 26 May, 2011 .
4. By letter dated 1 OJune, 2011 , the Registry sought to ascertain from the Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission, if the Respondent States had made the declarationenvisaged under Article 34 (6) of the Protocol.
5. By letter dated 13June, 2011, the Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission informed the Registry that neither Cameroon nor Nigeria had made the above-mentioned declaration; and at the same time attached a list on the status of ratification of the Protocol which indicates that Cameroon had not even ratified the Protocol.
6. The Court notes that Nigeria, a party to the Protocol, has not made the declaration and Cameroon has not even ratified the Protocol.
7. Article 5(3) of the Protocol provides that: lithe Court may entitle relevant Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with observer status before the Commission and individuals to institute cases directly before it, in accordance with Article 34 (6) of this Protocol".
8. Article 34(6) on its part provides that: 11At the time of the ratification of this Protocol or any time thereafter, the State shall make a declaration accepting the competence of the Court to receive cases under Article 5 (3) of this Protocol. The Court shall not receive any petition under Article 5 (3) involving a State Party which has not made such a declaration".
9. Read together, the above provisions allow for the Court to be seized directly by an individual only when a Respondent State has made the declaration authorizing such seizure.
10. It therefore follows from Article 34(6) of the Protocol that the Court manifestly lacks jurisdiction to receivethe application filed by Ekollo Moundi Alexandre against Cameroon and Nigeria.
11 . Article 6(3) of the Protocol provides that the Court may consider cases or transfer them to the Commission. The Court considers from the allegationsset out in the application that it would be appropriate to transfer the matter to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
12. For these reasons,
THE COURT,
i. Unanimously,
Decides, that in application of Article 34 (6) of the Protocol, it manifestly lacks jurisdiction to receive the application filed by Ekollo Moundi Alexandre against Cameroon and Nigeria.
ii. By seven votes to one,
Decides, in application of Article 6 (3) of the Protocol, to transfer the matter to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
In favour: Gerard NIYUNGEKO, President; Sophia A. B. AKUFFO, Vice President; Judges Jean MUTSINZI, Bernard M. NGOEPE, Modibo T. GUINDO, Duncan TAMBAlA and Sylvain ORE.
## Against: Judge Fatsah OUGUERGOUZ
Done in Arusha, this Twenty-third day of September, Two Thousand and Eleven, in English and in French, the French version being authoritative.
Signed:
Gerard NIYUNGEKO, President ~ Robert ENO, Acting Registrar
In accordance with Article 28 (7) of the Protocol and Rule 60(5) of the Rules of Court, the separate opinion of Judge Fatsah OUGUERGOUZ is appended to this decision.