A former member of cabinet of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Osaze Osemwengie-Ero, has explained that he was not arrested and detained in Italy for being in possession of $2 million belonging to the Governor.
Osemwengie-Ero who was Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs during the first tenure of Obaseki, returned to Benin City on Monday after over a year behind bar.
He said his detention has nothing to do with the State Government and Governor Obaseki.
“The arrest had nothing to do with money laundering. I wonder why people will say I was arrested with $2 million in my pocket or suitcase for the Governor.
“The Governor is too big for that as he was already rich before he became Governor of the State; he is an investment banker and can’t do that; that was primitive politics,” he said.
The former Commissioner also disclosed plan to lead a protest to Italian Embassy in the country, for release of over 300 Nigerian youths he alleged are illegally detained in various Italian prisons for trumped-up charges on mafia-related offences.
He said: “We have over 300 Nigerian youths in Italian prisons illegally arrested and incarcerated for false allegations of mafia-related crimes.
“I have a list of all of them and I am making contact with their families; I made a promise to them that they will not be forgotten.
“We will campaign against the corrupt Italian Justice system and I am going to lead a protest to the Italian Embassy within the next four weeks.”
“The justice system in Italy is complex and corrupt and they manipulate the justice system because they know nobody cares about Nigerians.”
