Amnesty International, Wednesday, called on Singapore government to
immediately halt Friday’s planned execution of a Nigerian indigene,
Chijoke Stephen Obioha for possession of drugs.
Despite his pleas for clemency, the country insists on serving the young man corporal punishment tomorrow, Friday November 18.
Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty International’s Director for South-East Asia
and the Pacific, said: “The Singapore government still has time to halt
the execution of Chijoke Stephen Obioha.
“We are dismayed that clemency has not been granted in his case, but
remain hopeful that they won’t carry out this cruel and irreversible
punishment against a person sentenced to the mandatory death penalty for
a crime that should not even be punished by death. “The death penalty is never the solution. It will not rid Singapore
of drugs. By executing people for drug-related offences, which do not
meet the threshold of most serious crimes, Singapore is violating
international law.
“Most of the world has turned its back on this ultimate cruel,
inhuman and degrading punishment. It is about time that Singapore does
the same, starting by restoring a moratorium on all executions as a
first step towards abolition of this punishment.”
“Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all
circumstances, regardless of the method of execution or the crime for
which it is imposed, and believes that there is no credible evidence
that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect.
Obioha was found in possession of more than 2.6 kilogrammes of
cannabis in April 2007, surpassing the amount of 500 grammes that
triggers the automatic presumption of trafficking under Singapore law.
Under Singaporean law, when there is a presumption of drug possession
and trafficking, the burden of proof shifts from the prosecutor to the
defendant.
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.
Source: Daily Post
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