In a statement on Thursday, November 10 on its website,
the AI 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.
Obioha, a graduate of industrial chemistry from the
University of Benin in Nigeria, was also found to possess
keys to a room containing additional prohibited substances
and this led the authorities to presume him guilty of
possession and knowledge of the drugs.
In August 2010, Obioha’s appeal against his conviction and
sentence was rejected, but maintaining his innocence of the
crime, he initially refused to make use of his right to re-
sentencing which amendments to Singapore’s mandatory’s
death penalty laws made in 2013 allowed for.
The AI is urging the world to pressure the Singaporean
president to immediately halt Chijioke Stephen Obioha’s
execution and grant him clemency.
The international organisation also called on people to force
the authorities to immediately re-impose an official
moratorium on all executions with a view to abolishing the
death penalty, and commute all existing death sentences.
It also reminded the authorities that drug-related offences do
not meet the threshold of the ‘most serious crimes’ to which
the use of the death penalty must be restricted under
international law, and that the imposition of the death
penalty as a mandatory punishment is also prohibited.
“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, they have received
sporadic and often delayed updates, including when a legal
representative was removed from the case,” Amnesty
International stated.
Source:Naij.com
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