TheCable

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer and counsel to Alex Saab, a special envoy of Venezuela, has asked Cape Verde to honour a court order on the release of his client.

On Monday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court ordered Cape Verde to release Saab.

The regional court also ordered the West African country to stop the process to extradite Saab to the US and awarded him $200,000 as cost.

In a letter dated March 16 and addressed to Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca and Jose Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva, president and prime minister of Cape Verde, Falana said the country has the legal and moral responsibility to respect the sanctity of the regional court.

The senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said Monday’s judgment is enforceable on the country.

The lawyer said Saab should be allowed to resume his duties as the alternate permanent representative of Venezuela to the African Union.

“We would expect your immediate compliance with the Honourable Court’s decision. This requires the immediate release of our client and payment of the damages of USD200,000 awarded as compensation for his illegal arrest and detention in accordance with the judgment of the court,” he said.

“In view of the fact that the judgment of the Court is binding and immediately enforceable we are compelled to respectfully request Your Excellencies to ensure that the government of the Republic of Cabo Verde complies with the judgment as well as provides safe passage for Mr. Saab to enable him to assume his diplomatic duties as an Alternate Permanent Representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the African Union.

“While awaiting immediate compliance with the judgment of the Ecowas Court by the Republic of Cabo Verde please accept the assurances of our highest esteem and professional regards.”

The envoy was arrested on June 12, 2020 after his private jet made a stopover in Cape Verde on his way to Iran for a humanitarian mission on behalf of the Venezuelan government.

The US reportedly put pressure on Cape Verde to arrest Saab — with plans of extraditing him to face corruption charges.