His Excellency Chief Dr. Ikedi Ohakim
Governor of Imo State
Executive Governor’s Office
PMB 1183
Owerri, Imo State
NIGERIA

Your Excellency:

I am respectfully requesting your intervention in the case of Patrick Okoroafor, currently detained indefinitely in Aba prison.

Concern:
On October 18, 2001 the High Court of Imo State declared the sentence of death for Patrick Okoroafor to be illegal, null and void, but seven years have passed since the High Court decision and he has still not been released. Police reportedly tortured Patrick in custody: hanging and beating him, and pulling out his teeth with pliers

History:
May 1995  –  Patrick Okoroafor was 14 years old when he was arrested and arraigned with six others for robbery and kidnapping, a crime he says he never committed.
May 1997  –  at the age of 16, Patrick and his six co-defendants were sentenced to death. Patrick and another minor, Chidiebere Onuoha, petitioned for clemency based on their age.
July 1997  –  the death sentences of the six co-defendants were confirmed, while Patrick’s sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.  Later that month, the six men were publicly shot to death; Chidiebere was 17 years old when he was executed.

Current Status:
More than seven years have passed since the High Court judgment in his favor, yet Patrick is still in prison, hoping for his release. His health worsens daily; his asthma attacks are now frequent and life threatening.

Patrick Okoroafor has spent almost half his life in prison. I am concerned about his deteriorating health and the reported torture that he endured while in police custody.

I respectfully urge you to release him without delay.

Thank you for your consideration.