Winning the lottery is often considered a life-changing event, but for one Nigerian migrant in Italy, this fortune alone was not enough to secure a fresh start for him. After winning €500,000 through Italy’s popular Gratta e Vinci lottery, as reported by The Guardian, Imagbe Ehizomwengie found himself unable to access the amount as he lacked legal residency status in the country. However, months later, Ehizomwengie, following a court ruling, was granted a residence permit in Italy. In an interview with the Guardian , the 36-year-old man shared that the legal recognition matters more to him than the jackpot, as he wished to work and contribute more to society.
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His lottery win was followed by legal obstacles
In October 2024, Ehizomwengie purchased a €5 Gratta e Vinci scratch card, using the money he earned from selling handkerchiefs and seeking donations outside the Turin supermarket. The celebrations after he learned he had won were cut short when he faced legal obstacles. As he did not possess a valid residence permit in the country, he was unable to open an Italian Bank account that was required to receive the winning amount. Additionally, as reported by The Guardian, at the time he lacked financial independence, which further complicated his efforts to renew his residency application. These complications ended up creating a legal bureaucratic impasse.
According to The Guardian, in 2016, Imagbe Ehizomwengie arrived in Italy after travelling through a dangerous migration route through Libya and across the Mediterranean Sea. In his interview, the 36-year-old recounted that he had spent two years in captivity in Libya before being released after a ransom payment. However, even after arriving in Italy, his application for Italy’s former “special protection” residence status was rejected after the changes in the immigration rules introduced by the government. Thus, being unable to obtain stable employment, Ehizomwengie started working as a street vendor while hoping for better opportunities.
The court granted Ehizomwengie a residential permit
The breakthrough came after his lawyer, Andrea Palazzeschi, pursued the case through a court in Ancona, and the court ruled that Ehizomwengie should receive a residence permit after considering his ability to speak Italian, his employment as a vendor, and his improved financial stability. His lawyer, Palazzeschi, stressed that the court’s decision was not wholly based on his lottery winnings but on Ehizomwengie’s successful integration into Italian society.
Following the ruling, a part of his lottery winnings was eventually transferred through relatives and was used to buy Mama Africa, a grocery store specialising in African products in Falconara. The 36-year-old now works in the business and has shared that his focus is no longer on money but rather on building a stable future. Additionally, he shared his plans to celebrate the grant of his residence permit with the members of his community, as he believes it to be the beginning of a normal life rather than the end of a legal struggle.
While lottery wins often make headlines, Imagbe Ehizomwengie’s experience highlights the challenges that one can face even after an unexpected financial boom. Furthermore, his case underscores how immigration status can have an impact on banking services, employment, and other essential aspects of daily life.
