Land law — Allodial title v. compulsory acquisition — road reservation/buffer zone — municipal planning control — admissibility and weight of planning documents and official testimony — presumption of regularity (s.37 Evidence Act) — burden to rebut permissions and allegations of fraud — trespass and injunction where occupation is by municipal licence.

Civil procedure – strike out – Order 9 Rule 6 – proper party – declaratory relief – agency defence – res judicata (estoppel per rem judicatam) – necessity of evidence to establish plea of res judicata – summary dismissal only where claim clearly unsustainable.

Limitation Act 1972 (NRCD 54) – sections 5(2), 10(1), 10(6) – accrual of cause of action – extinguishment of title by lapse of limitation – administrators’ capacity and effect of letters of administration – res judicata – enforcement of judgment.

Chieftaincy Act s.62(1) – Mandatory duty of Regional House of Chiefs to report installations – Mandamus to enforce statutory duty – Demand and constructive refusal by inordinate delay – Petition filed after demand not a legal impediment – Judicial review/remedy.

Administrative law – ECOWAS Commission powers – provisional measures – expedited procedure – jurisdiction under Art.9(1)(f) and (g) – admissibility and exhaustion of internal remedies for statutory appointees – inadmissibility of African Charter claims against ECOWAS institution.

Provisional measures – stay of assessment and enforcement of costs – requirement of prima facie jurisdiction – threshold of extreme gravity, urgency and irreparable harm – burden to provide concrete, verifiable evidence – mootness of requests where domestic assessment already made.

Compliance proceedings – jurisdiction to monitor implementation of Court judgments; indigenous peoples’ rights – land delimitation, demarcation and collective titling; reparations – unpaid pecuniary compensation; duty to consult – culturally appropriate consultations; establishment of community fund; publication and reporting obligations; refusal of provisional measures.

Human rights jurisdiction; admissibility — exhaustion of local remedies; right to terminate marriage (Maputo Protocol/UDHR); right to a fair trial — access to constitutional review; Article 236 (adultery) of Tunisian Penal Code; reparations and structural remedies (operationalise Constitutional Court; publication; report).

Procedure — Reopening pleadings — Rule 46(3) and Rule 90 — Court’s discretion to admit late filings — Late filing justified by stakeholder consultations in a case involving killing of a person with albinism — Submissions deemed filed and transmitted for reply — Majority decision with dissent.

Family law – Divorce of ordinance marriage – adultery, desertion and unreasonable behaviour as grounds for decree – custody awarded to respondent (petitioner conceded) – child maintenance and education orders – burden of proof for ancillary financial claims – refund of proven shop provisions.