The judge described Saab's arrest and subsequent detention as illegal, therefore, the court ordered Cape Verde to release Saab and stop all processes of extradition to the United States.
Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says Cape Verde has to obey a ruling by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court putting a stop to the extradition of Alex Saab, Venezuelan envoy.
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Against its earlier stance, the Barlavento Court of Appeal has approved an application seeking the removal of Venezuelan diplomat, Alex Saab, from a Cabo Verdean prison.
The court in its earlier judgement reported by
PREMIUM TIMES, rejected the appeal to stop diplomat’s extradition requests to the United States despite all arguments, including violation of human rights, put forward by Mr Saab’s defence team.
Both the court and the Attorney General, Luís Landim, had also argued in defiance of
ECOWASruling, categorically denying ever ratifying the protocol that gave jurisdiction to the international court in matters of human rights.
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The detained Venezuelan government ‘diplomat’, Alex Saab, has appealed a Cabo Verdean court ruling assenting to the United States of America extradition request.
Having lost at a lower court, an appeal to stop Mr Saab’s extradition to the U.S. was again rejected by the
Background
Following his arrest by the Cabo Verde security operatives at Interpol’s requests in late June 2020, the Venezuelan government identified the businessman as its diplomat on ‘humanitarian mission’ to Iran, an argument the tiny island court has dismissed.
“At the time of his hearing and validation of his extradition, he did not present any diplomatic passport or proof of statute in Special Envoy sent by the Venezuela government, as required; by the TRB,” a part of the court ruling seen by PREMIUM TIMES, read.