Pressure mounts on Cape Verde to free Alex Saab

As lawyers for Alex Saab fight to stop his extradition and other treatments being meted out to the businessman by the Cape Verde government which they describe unfair, some social media users have joined the bandwagon inundating the platform with tweets to protest the continued detention of the Columbian national.

With the hashtag #freealexsaab, the campaign has heightened as it has become one of the top trending topics on social media in Cape Verde.

“Any difficulty the United States has with Venezuela and its Government should not be solved on the soil of Cape Verde except that the host country do not know what they're doing. Total shame for Cape Verde. They need to free Alex Saab now,” says a tweep.

“Diplomatic immunity ensures diplomats are given safe passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the host country's laws. Playing politics with rules doesn't develop a Nation. Why did Cape Verde get involved in what she wouldn't obey?” another tweets.

The protest comes barely hours after the opposition party took on government for same.

A seemingly concerned Rui Semedo, Parliamentary Leader of African Party of Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), while challenging the ruling party on the continued detention of Alex Saab at a Parliamentary session, Thursday, raised questions about whether or not Saab was receiving the appropriate healthcare, emphasizing that “if Mr. Alex Saab has a setback due to lack of care from the Cape Verde state, we could have very serious problems”.

Minister of Internal Administration, Paulo Rocha however said he could not offer a detailed response to the issue because it’s a court’s decision.

"I don't know why they didn't ask the courts. He is an individual who is in prison, this has nothing to do with the government. He was released from prison and put under house arrest, he is under the custody of the police, who are complying with all judicial determinations," said Paulo Rocha.

Mr. Saab, a Colombian businessman linked to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, was arrested by police in Cape Verde in June last year on his way to Iran aboard a private jet. The 49-year-old was arrested on the orders of the U.S. on allegations of corruption. The U.S. wants him extradited to face charges of corruption, but Venezuela has taken a stance against that decision as Mr. Saab’s lawyers fight to stop the process.

Femi Falana, lawyer of Mr. Saab argued at the ECOWAS court that his client who is under house arrest cannot "be subjected to imprisonment and legal proceedings by Cape Verde" because he is a diplomat of Venezuela and must be accorded all the privileges of a diplomat.

According to him, his client was on his way to discharge diplomatic duties of Venezuela in Iran when he was arrested by local police in Cape Verde. Mr. Falana at the hearing of the case on Friday, February 5, 2021, said, it was surprising that Cape Verde continued to allege that Mr. Saab is not a diplomat and that there was nothing wrong with how it has handled the businessman.

Meanwhile, Venezuela says Saab is a diplomat.

Any difficulty the United States has with Venezuela and it's Government should not be solved on the soil of Cape Verde except that the host country do not know what they're doing. Total shame for Cape Verde. They need to free Alex Saab now.#freealexsaab #freealexsaab

— M Jay (@Michael_Drinks) February 12, 2021

We need to talk and rescue him
He was arrested illegally@PresidenciaCV need to release him
You guys are acting illegally
Release him
Release our man
The whole world is watching you#freealexsaab #freealexsaab #freealexsaab #freealexsaab #freealexsaab #freealexsaab

— ?gb?ni Ajakaye (@AjakayeOgbeni) February 12, 2021

Diplomatic immunity ensures diplomats are given safe passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the host country's laws. Playing politics with rules doesn't develop a Nation. Why did Cape Verde get involved in what she wouldn't obey? #FreeAlexSaab

— LSF Abayomi ADEBAYO (@yomisaint) February 12, 2021

Alex Saab is a special envoy of the republic of Venezuela and ought not to be arrested as far as international law is concerned.#FreeAlexSaab pic.twitter.com/TehlN4Qi64

— uncle DEEN™ ? (@officialmrdeen) February 12, 2021

Who cuts supplies to a country of over 28millon people and still have their ambassador detained on his was to get relief? This is the story of Venezuelan Alex Saab being kept Hostage in cape Verde #FreeAlexSaab

— Kabiyesi, The King (@ImranSZN) February 12, 2021

Enough is enough

Free Alex Saab#freealexsaab pic.twitter.com/KCiQ3GxEoI

— Stephen Adebayo (@thissteven1) February 12, 2021

It's quite painful and sad when someone his detained for doing some noble and selfless action free #freealexsaab pic.twitter.com/fJTdjN0EDD

— Kolade Dawodu (@kolade_dawodu) February 12, 2021

It's highly expedient to know that where human rights are discard and not recognized. Then, all manner of ills are permissible. That's what's happening right NOW.#freealexsaab . pic.twitter.com/UNIpKy2ZRS

— Oyindamola Martins (@Ooyinolowo) February 12, 2021

Mr. Alex Saad current predicament is due to the diplomatic row between Venezuela and the United State of America, you wonder, why he should be the scapegoat of such, in a civilized society, why should he be singled out for punishment #freealexsaab

— Emma_Tallest (@EmmaTallest) February 12, 2021

On the 5th of February 2021 at @courtecowas a counsel had argued that Cape Verde has to comply with the ECOWAS Ruling in accordance with the Revised Treaty (Article 15) besides the Additional Protocols”.#FreeAlexSaab pic.twitter.com/bwPqM5wOmR

— V.I.C.T.O.R.Y. (@VictoryAlex4) February 12, 2021

My believe is even if he was arrested, once his country explains his status as a diplomat, under the Vienna Convention, that should have been the end of the matter.#FreeAlexSaab pic.twitter.com/GKpublPeDu

— AYO OF CANADA ???????? ? ???? (@iam_ayobamie) February 12, 2021

Alex Saab did nothing wrong to be detained ????????
Free Alexsaab
Free Alexsaab!!
Free him!!!!#FreeAlexSaab

— Lanre ??????????? (@adexco_pr) February 12, 2021

Why will Alex Saab detained?
Why is he denied access to health care?
Why is he denied access to his defense team?

Alex Saab did no wrong
He just wanted to help his people.#freealexsaab

— Ola????? (@p_jagzs) February 12, 2021

Alex Saab was on a mission to another country, so he can bring goodwill to his people, in the middle of a tough time and Pandemic. This man is being held hostage against all rules in another country for the past 6 months. #freeAlexSaab pic.twitter.com/MzNPVtgf42

— ORIGINAL IJAW BOY (@Sm_geeh) February 12, 2021