Singapore has rejected an appeal for clemency by a Nigerian, Chijoke Stephen, due to be executed on Friday

Singapore has rejected an appeal for clemency by a Nigerian due to be executed on Friday for being in possession of cannabis, Amnesty International has said. Chijoke Stephen Obioha’s family was informed on Wednesday of his failed clemency appeal, it added.  He  was found in possession of more than 2.6kg of cannabis in April 2007, surpassing the amount of 500 grams that triggers the automatic presumption of trafficking under Singapore law.

Amnesty's Rafendi Djamin said:

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."