Edo Ex-Commissioner Osaze-Ero Reacts To Statements Portraying His Claims Against Italian Govt As Untrue, Reveals More

Former Edo state commissioner for art, culture and tourism, Osaze Osemwingie Ero has reacted to statement credited to Mr Oputteh Ifeoluwa Michael, Welfare Officer, National Union of Nigerian Associations in Italy (NUNAI), that over 300 Nigerians been unlawfully held in the Italian prison are cultists, ChrisOsaMedia reports.

The former commissioner after his release accused the Italian government of being corrupt and claimed that there are hundreds of Nigerians in the Italian prison who’s been maltreated and denied Justice by the Italian judicial system for crimes they did not commit. 

He also said some Nigerians up to twenty were in Italy arrested and charged to court but are unable to afford a private lawyer otherwise known as an independent lawyer.

He narrated to ChrisOsaMedia, that the Italian government via the prosecutor in charge of their case gave them government lawyers and then manipulated the lawyers to commit them.

He referred to the situation as “Injustice”

Mr Osaze Ero who spoke to a correspondent of ChrisOsaMedia via a telephone phone call on Monday also  faulted Nigeria’s ambassador for not acting when he was arrested by Italian government,

He further portrayed his earlier claims that Nigerians are been maltreated in Italy, that himself was a “victim of racial discrimination and manipulation of a very corrupt prosecutor of the Italian Justice system,”

His statement was however countered by a statement released by Oputteh Ifeoluwa Michael, Welfare Officer, National Union of Nigerian Associations in Italy (NUNAI), described Ero’s claim as false, stressing that Italian authorities have never targeted Nigerians for any harassment nor racial discrimination.

Mr Ero further said that he would have been a victim just like other Nigerians in the Italian prison if he didn’t have the resources to hire an independent lawyer that cannot be compromised by the prosecutor

In his words, “ The only evidence the prosecutor presented against me in court was a forged Green Bible which the prosecutor Claimed was a manual used by Nigeria Mafia Association”

“In September 26th Torino chronic recorded that 20 Nigerians were sentenced to 140 years in prison with the forged manual, those Boys are in prison now for 3 years and their appeal is coming up by September “

He added that the welfare officer,  Oputteh Ifeoluwa Michael should have found out from him Why he said so instead of concluding and releasing a statement to that effect that his (Ero) claims were false.

Ero said he will be leading a protest with his friends and family at the front of the Italian embassy on Thursday in Lagos and also submit a petition.

Ero said “ I’ll do the same thing at Italian embassy in London next month “

He also said that those 20 Nigerians who are been held unjustly in the Italian prison should be released because they were also held due to the forged document that was tendered against him in court but was exonerated by the court after trial