A Nigerian man, Imagbe Ehizomwengie who won €500,000 in an Italian lottery but was initially unable to claim his prize because he lacked legal residency status has finally been granted a residence permit, bringing an end to years of uncertainty.
Imagbe Ehizomwengie, 36, described the permit as even more significant than the lottery jackpot itself.
“I’ve been praying for this moment ever since I arrived in Italy,” he said.
“It’s a huge relief. You might think it’s incredible, but receiving the permit means more to me than winning the money. I want to work and contribute to society.”
Ehizomwengie bought a €5 Gratta e Vinci scratchcard in October 2025 using money he earned from selling handkerchiefs and begging outside a supermarket in Turin. His excitement at winning the jackpot was soon overshadowed by legal and bureaucratic hurdles.
Migration Status
The Nigerian migrant arrived in Italy in 2016 after making a perilous journey across the Mediterranean from Libya, where he said he had been held captive for two years before being released following the payment of a ransom.
His application for a special protection permit was rejected, leaving him without legal residency and unable to work formally. To survive, he sold goods on the streets and occasionally purchased lottery scratchcards.
“When I lived in Nigeria, I was always praying for opportunities, but they never came,” he said.
“But you also need to take risks in life, and I kept believing that one day I might even become a millionaire.”
Recalling the day he won, Ehizomwengie added:
“I stopped buying the scratchcards for years but on the day I won … I truly believe God was watching over me.
Despite his windfall, he faced another challenge. Without a residence permit, he could not open a bank account to receive the winnings. At the same time, he needed proof of financial independence to strengthen his appeal for residency.
Long Legal Battle
After a complicated process involving relatives and associates, part of the winnings was eventually transferred to his cousin’s account and used to purchase Mama Africa, a shop that sells African food products in Falconara, a town in Italy’s Marche region.
Meanwhile, his lawyer, Andrea Palazzeschi, pursued the case through the courts. This week, a court in Ancona ordered that Ehizomwengie be granted a residence permit, citing factors including his proficiency in Italian, his employment at the business and his financial independence.
Palazzeschi stressed that the lottery win alone was not the deciding factor.
“But it’s important to stress that Imagbe didn’t get the residence permit because he won the money, he got it because he proved to be a good candidate.”
The decision marks the end of a decade-long struggle for Ehizomwengie, who now hopes to build a stable future in Italy.
Although his story has attracted widespread attention in Falconara, he said any celebration would focus on his new legal status rather than his financial success.
“But only to celebrate receiving my permit,” he said. “I want to work and intend to keep my feet firmly on the ground. I just want to live a normal life.”
