Alex Saab’s special envoy, humanitarian mission status buried by Cape Verde’s judiciary, law enforcement officers — Official

Cape Verde’s law enforcement authority has hidden documents that affirm Alex Saab Special Envoy status on humanitarian mission to Iran, despite having them in their possession, Baltasar Garzón, coordinator of the international legal team has said.

Mr Garzón who disclosed this on Thursday in a statement while reacting  to Cape Verde’s supreme court ruling on Mr Saab, noted that whilst he (Mr Saab) was not carrying a diplomatic passport, when he was arrested during his stopover at Cape Verde, his bag contained irrefutable evidence supporting both his status as a special envoy and the humanitarian nature of his special mission to Iran.

“These letters were not brought to the knowledge of the Prosecutor by the Cape Verde police even when in possession of the evidence. This was a fact that was reported to the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor. This complaint remains unanswered by both the judicial and law enforcement authorities of Cape Verde,” his statement reads.

Different verdicts  

Although, on March 15, the ECOWAS court had requested the release of Mr Saab. In its judgment, it likewise guided the Cape Verdean government to pay him $200,000 as payment for his “unlawful capture and detainment” and that they should “cease all procedures and cycles pointed toward removing the Applicant to the USA.”

Rather than consenting to the ECOWAS court ruling,  the Cabo Verdean Supreme Court on March 17, provided a request approving the removal of the Venezuelan ambassador, Alex Saab, who has been in detainment since late June 2020, to the United States of America.

The Apex court maintained the territorial court beginning judgment on the premise that  the archipelago nation was not lawfully limited by the provincial court’s choices.

ALSO READ: Cape Verde’s opposition faults handling of Alex Saab’s case by government

This negates the initial  judgment gave by  the ECOWAS court on Mr Saab’s capture, confinement and plan by the Cape Verdean government to remove him.

Responses

Reacting to the supreme court  judgement, Mr Garzón said  the ECOWAS court decreed the illegality of Mr Saab’s detention and that it is clear given the binding nature of the decision on Cape Verde, that he must be released immediately.

He said the fact is that Mr  Saab is now his country’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the African Union, so, not only was his detention found illegal by the ECOWAS but also, on the basis of international law, his diplomatic status is unquestionable.

On his part, Femi Falana, Mr Saab’s leading counsel, described the moment as a ‘day of shame’, and as well urged ECOWAS to speak up in order to support the sanctity of the ECOWAS court.

Mr Falana said “In a decision which can only be described as “extraordinary and unprecedented” Cape Verde’s Supreme Court decided that the extradition of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab could proceed.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the decision was handed down in direct defiance of the ruling made by the ECOWAS Court of Justice on Monday.

He reiterated that the ECOWAS Court had  ruled on Monday that Alex Saab, who was detained on 12 June 2020 on the Cape Verde island of Sal whilst undertaking a humanitarian special mission, must be released immediately and the extradition process initiated at the request of the United States, stopped.

According to the court’s decision, Mr Falana noted that there was no “red notice” in place when Mr Saab was arrested making both the arrest and all subsequent actions illegal.

“This is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of disobedience by Cape Verde. It is a Day of Shame for ECOWAS” he said.

Mr Falana expressed worry that there can be no debate about the binding nature of the ECOWAS Court’s decision on Cape Verde,  urging  members of the ECOWAS Commission to stand up and make clear their opposition to the behaviour of Cape Verde.

If the Commission wants the highest human rights court in ECOWAS to continue to command the respect of not just the community but all of
Africa, then it is imperative that senior officials condemn the actions of Cape Verde, Mr Falana said.

Also, Mr Falana called upon the ECOWAS Heads of State to convey their concern and displeasure at the shameful actions of Cape Verde.

“In approving the extradition, Cape Verde is destroying the entire global diplomatic order and the sanctity of diplomatic missions which has been established over several centuries,” he said.

Jose-Manuel Monteiro, who has been leading Mr Saab’s defense team in Cape Verde was quoted to have said ” For the Supreme court to deliver a ruling which serves no purpose but satisfy the political avarice of others is very disappointing.”

He noted that it is now up to the ECOWAS Commission to speak up and preserve the integrity and independence of its own Court, and that Cape Verde must not be allowed to subvert the judicial organ of ECOWAS without appropriate sanctions.

“The defence will now appeal today’s decision to the Cape Verde Constitution Court and is exploring all other legal options to bring an end to the illegal arrest and extradition process being conducted against Alex Saab,” he said.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE