Amnesty begs Singapore not to execute Nigerian drug convict

Amnesty International has beckoned on the Singapore government not to carry out the planned execution of Chijoke Obioha, a Nigerian convicted on Wednesday for possession of hard drugs.

The government of Singapore turned down the appeal for Leniency filed by Obioha’s family to plead his course as he has been sentenced to be executed on Friday 18th of November, 2016.

“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”, Amnesty International’s Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Rafendi Djamin, said.

Furthermore, he stressed that “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.”

Read Also: Duterte follows in Putin’s footsteps, says Philippines may also exit ICC.

Amnesty International kicks against death penalty in all ramifications regardless of the gravity of the crime committed.

Chijoke Obioha was apprehended for drug trafficking in April 2007. He was found in possession of more than 2.6 kilograms of cannabis.

Under Singapore’s law, when there is a presumption of drug possession and trafficking, the burden of proof shifts from the prosecutor to the defendant, a system most commentators regard as violating the right to a fair trial by turning the presumption of innocence on its head.

Most countries have shunned the death penalty as punishment for criminal offences as part of respect for International Laws.

By Joseph Emmanuel…

 

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