ARUSHA: Kimelabalou sworn in as African Court judge

BY LUSEKELO PHILEMON

Togolese Justice Kimelabalou Aba was yesterday sworn-in as new Judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, in accordance with Article 16 of the Protocol establishing the African Court and Rule 4 (2) of the Rules of the Court.

The ceremony was held at the Court’s Seat, located at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Conservation Centre, along Dodoma Road.

Kimelabalou was appointed as Judge of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, on January  28, 2013, by the 20th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, for a year and a half (1½ year) term. 

Kimelabalou is a national of Togo holding a postgraduate Interuniversity Diploma in Fundamental Rights from the University of Nantes, France, graduated in Magistracy at the Ecole Nationale d’Aminsitration (ENA) of Lomé (Togo). 

He also holds  a Master in Business Law  and a Degree in Private Law, both from the University of Benin, Lomé (Togo).

He also attended several trainings and seminars in the field of law in relation of fighting money laundering, funding of terrorism and cybercrime.

Prior to his election as a Judge of the Court, he was the President of the Court of First Instance of Vogan in Togo. Before becoming the President of the Tribunal of Vogan, he worked as Judge and Prosecution Officer, respectively, at the Tribunal of First Instance of Lome (Togo). 

He was also a Member of several committees in Togo including the ad hoc Committee drafting legislation relating to information society in Togo, including cyber crime, electronic transactions and the protection of personal data.

Judge Kimelabalou replaces as Judge of the Court the late Joseph Nyamihana Mulenga (from Uganda) who passed away on August 29, 2012.

Justice Mulenga was elected a judge of the African Court at the 13th Ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt) in June 2008, for a term of six years.

The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by the President of the Court, Justice Sophia A-B. Akuffo, and was attended by 10 Judges of the Court.

 SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN (05/03/2013): http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=51959