Nigerian Youth Sentenced To Death In Singapore! NairaLanders Do Something

SIR: The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) is deeply concerned by the very high and grim prospect that 19-year old Iwuchukwu Amara Tochi, a Nigerian citizen sentenced to death in Singapore in April, may be executed in few days time unless the Nigerian government urgently and decisively intervenes to save his life. Therefore, the organisation calls upon civil society organisations and the media to embark on vigorous and concerted campaign to elicit such action by the Nigerian government.

The CLO calls on the Nigerian Government through a letter addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation to urgently take up this matter with the authorities of Singapore to ensure that, at least, Tochi's sentence is commuted to imprisonment.

Furthermore, the organisation is preparing to take a legal action at the Federal High Court to compel the Attorney-General of the Federation to file an action at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to prevent the Singaporean government from executing Tochi.

Tochi was condemned in March 2005 by the high court in Singapore, after he was found guilty of carrying 727.03 grams of heroin into Singapore and is currently awaiting execution following the death sentence pronounced on him. During Tochi's trial, the Judge Mr. Kan Tin Chiu, made the following findings at paragraph 42 of the judgement (2005) SGHC233: "There was no direct evidence that he knew the capsules contained diamorphine. There was nothing to suggest that Smith had told him they contained diamorphine, or he had found that out of his own."

Still, the same judicial officer went on to find Tochi guilty, in contradiction of his own findings of fact. Unfortunately, the Court of Appeal, the highest appellate court in Singapore, closed its eyes to such palpable error of law and confirmed the conviction of Tochi.

The trial was full of irregularities, as Tochi, a foreigner, was not informed of his right to speak with the Nigerian Consulate to assist in securing the services of a competent lawyer of his choice to prepare his defence considering the fact that the alleged offence attracts death penalty. This failure was a breach of the Vienna Convention on consular relation which Nigeria and Singapore are signatories.

In our effort to save Tochi's life, the CLO sent one of its Staff Attorney, Mr. Princewill Akpakpan, to Singapore to press for Tochi's freedom and see him in prison custody, as mandated by the family. Unfortunately, however, the Singaporean authority further breached the right of Tochi by preventing Mr. Apakpan from seeing him in custody, a flagrant breach of United Nations Minimum Standard Rule for the Treatment of Prisoners,

This, in our view, is a clear case of racial discrimination against an African nationals, as the same treatment was not meted to an Australian lawyer who was given access to Van Nguyen Tuong, an Australian who was detained in Singaporean prison. We find the action of Singaporean government insulting and humiliating to the entire black race. This innocent boy must not die.

Osaze Nosaze,
Executive Director,
Civil Liberties Organisation,
Lagos



I Connect with this case because ive Been To Singapore and other places in South East Asia. The Criminal Justice System is Averse To Blacks.

Fellow Nairalanders Please Do Something. At least U can Post!!! Post !!!Post !!.

Anywhere CNN, ABC, BBC  Etc,  UN,  Et All. Time is Running Out!!!

Very sad, put before he tried to smuggle heroin into singapore I'm sure he knew the penalty if caught would lead to a death sentence but he went ahead and did it any ways.

I'm a christen and I hate to see a fellow brother put to death. But some time it's very hard not to just say good ridiaance. People like that give they rest of us overseas a very bad name. Like the previous poster said if he had succeeded, and start flashing money at home we would not be talking about this.

Yes, living broad is better than living in NIgeria

This is example of what they do over there, and some will be arguing as if we dont know what majority of them do!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God will help him and NIGERIA!!!!

I weap for NIGERIA and NIGERIAN as a BRAND

I have no sympathy for drug dealers,if this guy succeeded with his trip to Singapore,he would get a Chieftaincy title and a political office to go with it.

Hang Him High

Why did he not say what all the others say. That it was not his druge,that someone put it in his bag.
Give some real links to post post post.

you didnt mention three people shot by policemen who were subsequebtly killed by the mob
those three allegedly drove away after parting with "just N20" on christmas day!

I think it was stupis what he did no doubt, but no one deserves a death sentacne for bieng stupid.

Too bad i didnt se4 this thread on time.

I can see that we all have a non chalant attitude, thinking that because this guy carried heroine, then he should not be saved.

I wonder how many of us will not frown if someone is sentenced to death dfor carrying heroine. What about people who murder, what sentence will they get?.

The Nigerian foreing affairs and embassy overseas have a duty, a duty to serve and protect the interest of any, and i mean any Nigerian Citizen living abroad, even in the face of adversity.

I remembered a case of a british citizen of asian descent who was sentenced to death for murder in pakistan( I guess i am right) in 1983, and a whole prince charles had to visit pakistan to plead his case before the president. he was released into the hands of the british for him to serve his sentence in England. He has now been released, and taggged.

Please please and please, even though he is guilty, he still have a right to a fair trial, a right to appropriate lawyer, a right to Nigerian consular officials, a right not to be sentenced to death.

Nigeria is sick, and i will say again and again that Nigeria is "Jaga Jaga". I simply dont blame Eedrees for singing that song, infact it was a real inspiration.

Anything goes in Nigeria this days, can you imagine 500 citizens burned in the carnage in lagos, all the government had to say his SORRY!, while they go on fighting on a seat that they will leave within six months.

Let me ask, can they ascertain the names address of everyone that died?, no way. I cant imagine a country of 140 million who does not even have a database of 10 million of its citizen, not to talk of a 19 year old Nigerian who was sentenced to death,

SHAME ON YOU THE PRESIDENCY,, SHAME, !

to Gbengaijot,

you are right. However, it is the responsibility of any citizen to jnow how f--d up its country is. Being a Nigerian, you suppose to know that your govt will not give a hoot about u. hence dont put yourself in a precarious situation. If gonna carry contraband research the country you will offend its law. Example, you stand a better chance of offending a UK/US law as far as drugs are concerned. The worst that could happen is that you will be jailed and u will come out alive someday.

In contrast, you try same thing in Saudi, your head will be cut off. We have alot of our citizen facing problems overseas and you are basically on your own. Heck, just to get apassport renewed overseas (even in Uk or US) thru the Nigerian Embassy is a hassle. Getting them on the phone alone in the US, you will count yoursel lucky if you are able to speak with somebody at all.

How on earth will i go put myself in a "jaga jaga" knowing all these things?. Lets face it, no matter where u go in life, justice for a black man is still lacking compared for a white man. U were comparing the case of a british citizen and Prince Charles was there. Well remeber there is BBC whicjh happens to be in every country. Of course they will broadcast the news. Pakistan will be more willing listen to Britain cos of other Diplomatic issues they will face if they fail to listen and carry out the sentence.

What does Pakistan need from Nigeria? What is their Diplomatic relationship at present? So dont compare apple and oranges.

I still maintain, Hang that boy high. i will volunteer to pull the lever 

Why did the guy go to singapore in the first place. Those singapore people love executing people

nahhh the guy is guilty, but these asians usually play ROCK PAPER SCISSORS to decide wether or not to give the drugie a couple of decades or the death sentence. The guy should be arguing that he was trafficking the drugs as a way to get money and that he is not a consumer, otherwise these singapore hommies will use him to perfrom their favourite hobby,    "EXECUTION"

in the first place, wasnt he aware smuggling is illegal in that country; or did they forced the cocaine on him?

but i think he should've been given a fair trial either sentenced to jail; execution is rather too outrageous just for a cocain pusher.  how about other serious crime then?

This is specifically to you Imani or watever u call yourself. U keep screaming 'Hang the boy' i am quite sure you are older than the 19yr old Tochi but had he succeeded and brought that money to woo you, you will be with him even going as far as doing voodoo to seal your place with him. You people who say, its good riddance etc, have u forgotten what Jesus said to the people who wanted to kill the adulterous woman? Does that boy not deserve another chance to life? If that boy were a member of your family would you have said the same? Lets face it, how many of you have never done anything to ensure more wad in your wallet or bank account? not necesarily by way of stealing or conning people but by ways like tax evasion etc, cheating in a job exam, school exam etc?did u get caught? should you not thank God you are where you are today?
Please people, lets keep on posting for this boy as he definitely deserves a chance to live. Please !

Moving to Crime section.  It's such a pity that some bloodthirsty people feel the need to execute non-murderers.

However, there is absolutely nothing we can do.  Someone should have said something when the law was being made.

well well well

i have no sympathy for drug dealers or couriers. He picked the wrong country to smuggle to. Unfortunately its their law , he broke it , now only God will save him.

I have no pity for does who ply drugs to others, i know it's a personal choice to take drugs but if it weren't there they wont want it. Too many lives are affected by drugs, not just the muppetts who sniff, inject or smoke them,the lives of their families are ripped to shreds. So i am am not emphatic to any end a drug dealer meets at all, death or jail. One more off the streets is good enough for me. Dirty greedy sonuvabitch

well such is life, even Hitler started life as a young cutie boy. Life that is what happens. This boy made his choice, and his chose to be a drug smuggler, i do not empathise with him. He made his bed. He took the cowards way , instead of grinding it out like many other honest ppl.