Falana Writes Cape Verde Govt Asks For Compliance Of ECOWAS Court Judgment Over Alex Saab’s Release

*Demands Payment of USD200,000 As Damages Awarded By
Court

Femi Falana, SAN, a human rights lawyer and counsel to Alex
Saab, special envoy of the Venezuelan government, has asked the
government of Republic of Cabo Verde, to comply with the judgment
of the Ecowas Court, by releasing his client from illegal
detention.

Falana, made this disclosure in a letter dated March 16, 2021
addressed to the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde Jorge
Carlos de Almeida Fonseca, and the Prime Minister, Jose Ulisses de
Pina Correia e Silva, and made available to Nairalaw(TNL)
.

In the letter the learned Silk noted that the Republic of Cabo
Verde as an important member State of the African Union and the
Economic Community of West African States, has both legal and moral
responsibility to respect the sanctity, integrity, authority and
independence of the Community Court of Justice.

“Furthermore, having fully participated in the Ecowas Court’s
process (as evidenced by the attendance and participation of your
counsel Dr Henriqe Borges on both 5 February and 15 March) and
therefore submitted to the jurisdiction of the Ecowas Court, 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.

“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
letter stated.

Nairalaw(TNL), earlier reported that in the case between
Alex Nain Saab Moran Vs. The Republic Of Cabo Verde, with the SUIT
NO: ECW/CCI/APP/43/2020, the Court Justice of the Economic
Community of West African States (Ecowas Court) had issued its
judgment regarding the arrest and extradition process to the United
States of the Special Envoy of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela, Mr Alex Saab.

In the said judgment, the Ecowas Court orders the
authorities of the Republic of Cabo Verde to:
1. Release Mr. Alex Saab with immediate effect in restoration of
his freedom of movement;

2. Discontinue the execution of all procedures and processes to
extradite Mr Saab to the United States of America; and

3. Indemnify Mr Saab in the sum of USD200,000 for the moral
damages suffered as a result of his illegal arrest and
detention.

*Demands Payment of USD200,000 As Damages Awarded By
Court

Femi Falana, SAN, a human rights lawyer and counsel to Alex
Saab, special envoy of the Venezuelan government, has asked the
government of Republic of Cabo Verde, to comply with the judgment
of the Ecowas Court, by releasing his client from illegal
detention.

Falana, made this disclosure in a letter dated March 16, 2021
addressed to the President of the Republic of Cabo Verde Jorge
Carlos de Almeida Fonseca, and the Prime Minister, Jose Ulisses de
Pina Correia e Silva, and made available to Nairalaw(TNL)
.

In the letter the learned Silk noted that the Republic of Cabo
Verde as an important member State of the African Union and the
Economic Community of West African States, has both legal and moral
responsibility to respect the sanctity, integrity, authority and
independence of the Community Court of Justice.

“Furthermore, having fully participated in the Ecowas Court’s
process (as evidenced by the attendance and participation of your
counsel Dr Henriqe Borges on both 5 February and 15 March) and
therefore submitted to the jurisdiction of the Ecowas Court, 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.

“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
letter stated.

Nairalaw(TNL), earlier reported that in the case between
Alex Nain Saab Moran Vs. The Republic Of Cabo Verde, with the SUIT
NO: ECW/CCI/APP/43/2020, the Court Justice of the Economic
Community of West African States (Ecowas Court) had issued its
judgment regarding the arrest and extradition process to the United
States of the Special Envoy of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela, Mr Alex Saab.

In the said judgment, the Ecowas Court orders the
authorities of the Republic of Cabo Verde to:
1. Release Mr. Alex Saab with immediate effect in restoration of
his freedom of movement;

2. Discontinue the execution of all procedures and processes to
extradite Mr Saab to the United States of America; and

3. Indemnify Mr Saab in the sum of USD200,000 for the moral
damages suffered as a result of his illegal arrest and
detention.