ECOWAS Court orders the release of Alex Saab, fines Cape Verde

The ECOWAS Court has ruled that Alex Saab who has been under house arrest since January 25, 2021 should be released.

According to the court, Mr. Saab's arrest made by the Cape Verdean authorities is illegal because at the time of his arrest, there was no Red Alert. His extradition process, thus, should be stopped immediately.

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. wanted him extradited to face charges of corruption, but Venezuela took a stance against that decision as Mr. Saab’s lawyers fought to stop the process.

Saab's lawyers had argued that "having regard to Mr. Saab’s immunity under international law, INTERPOL does not expect his provisional arrest, unless Venezuela waives the immunity."

After weeks of legal arguments, the court has ruled in favour of Saab. The Court has ordered Cape Verde to pay $200,000.