Nigerian to be executed for drug trafficking

A Nigerian national , Chijioke Stephen Obioha , convicted
for possession of drugson 30 December 2008 , will be
executed on 18 November.
According to Amnesty International, on 9 April 2007
Chijoke 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 presume him guilty of possession and
knowledge of the drugs .
Chijioke Stephen Obioha ’ s appeal against his
conviction and sentence was rejected in August 2010.
Maintaining his innocence of the crime , Chijoke
initially refused to make use of his right to
resentencing which amendments to Singapore
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 15 May 2015. It was stayed a
day earlier to allow him to apply for resentencing.
His family were only informed on 25 October 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 staye of xecution with effect from 24 October,
resulting in the execution date to be set for 18
November.
Chijioke Stephen Obioha appealed once again for
clemency for the President, who has the power to
commute his death sentence .
“ 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.