A Nigerian, Chijoke Stephen Obioha, who was arrested for trafficking in illicit drugs in far away Singapore may be executed any time today in the Asian country.

The accused had been tried in a court of competent jurisdiction and found guilty of the offence.

Drug related offence in Singapore carry death penalty by hanging.

Already, Amnesty International has called on Singapore’s government to immediately halt today’s planned execution of the Nigerian convicted for the possession of drugs.

Despite his pleas for clemency, the country insists on serving the young man the utmost punishment of death.

Amnesty International’s Director for South-East Asia and the Pacific, Rafendi Djamin, 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 did the same, starting by restoring a moratorium on all executions as a first step towards abolition of this punishment.”