Falana petitions Cape Verde President over detention of Venezuelan envoy

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr. Femi Falana, has written a petition to the President of Cape Verde, Jorge Carlos Fonseca over the continued detention of his client, Alex Saab -a special envoy of the Venezuelan government.

In the petition dated January 7 which was made available to the media on Thursday, Falana, a human rights lawyer said that the detention of his client by Cape Verdean authorities was illegal.

In the letter which was also signed by Jose M.P. Monteiro, Rutsel S. J Martha and Baltasar R. Garzon, (other lawyers to Saab), Falana said the West African country is pursuing a “damaging path” in partnership with the US which has encouraged countries to obey the rule of law.

READ ALSO: Sowore to sue Nigeria police for torture – Falana

Saab who is caught up in a bitter feud between his country, Venezuela and the US was arrested on June 12, 2020 after his private jet made a stop over at Cape Verde on his way to Iran for a humanitarian mission on behalf of the government of Venezuela.

Reports say the businessman was arrested after the US put pressure on Cape Verde to arrest him with plans of extraditing him to America to face corruption charges.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now