Singapore to execute Nigerian for drug trafficking November 18
The family of Chijioke Obioha, a Nigerian national
given the mandatory death sentence for possession
of drugs for the purpose of trafficking on December
30, 2008, have been informed that November 18 is
his new execution date.
Amnesty International in a statement Thursday
recalled that on April 9, 2007, Obioha was found in
possession of more than 2.6 kilograms of cannabis,
surpassing the statutory amount of 500 grams that
under Singapore law triggers the automatic
presumption of trafficking.
Also in his possession were keys to a room
containing additional prohibited substances, leading
the authorities to presuming him guilty of
possession and knowledge of the drugs.
Obioha’s appeal against his conviction and
sentence was rejected in August 2010, but
maintaining his innocence of the crime, he initially
refused to make use of his right to resentencing
which amendments to Singapore’s mandatory’s
death penalty laws made in 2013 allowed for.
“After the rejection of his clemency appeal in April
2015, his execution was set for May 15, 2015. It
was stayed a day earlier to allow him apply for
resentencing.
“His family were only informed on October 25, 2016
that he had resolved to withdraw his application for
resentencing earlier in the year, following legal
advice that he would not qualify as “courier” under
the amended laws.
“Consequently, the Court of Appeal lifted the stay of
execution with effect from October 24, resulting in
the execution date to be set for November 18.
“Chijioke Stephen Obioha graduated in Industrial
Chemistry from Benin University in Nigeria. He
moved to Singapore in 2005, seeking to join a
football club. His family members, who currently
live in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, have been
unable to travel to visit and had limited ability to
assist him.
“Throughout the duration of the proceedings,
No comments:
Post a Comment