A Nigerian migrant who won €500,000 in an Italian scratchcard lottery but was initially unable to access his winnings due to his undocumented status has finally been granted a residency permit, bringing an end to years of uncertainty and hardship.
Imagbe Ehizomwengie, 36, described the decision as a life-changing moment, saying the residency permit meant even more to him than the lottery jackpot itself.
“I’ve been praying for this moment ever since I arrived in Italy,” Ehizomwengie said. “Receiving the permit means more to me than winning the money. I want to work and contribute to society.”
Ehizomwengie purchased the winning €5 Gratta e Vinci scratchcard in October 2025 using money earned from selling handkerchiefs and seeking assistance outside a supermarket in Turin. While the win initially seemed like a stroke of luck, it quickly turned into a bureaucratic nightmare.
Having arrived in Italy from Libya in 2016 after a dangerous journey across the Mediterranean, Ehizomwengie had struggled for years to secure legal residency. His previous application for special protection status had been denied, leaving him without legal documentation and unable to work officially.
The lack of residency created an unusual dilemma. Without legal status, he could not open a bank account to receive the lottery winnings. At the same time, without access to the funds, he was unable to demonstrate the financial stability required to strengthen his residency application.
After months of legal efforts and financial complications, part of the lottery money was transferred through family channels and used to purchase Mama Africa, a shop specializing in African food products in the coastal town of Falconara.
His lawyer, Andrea Palazzeschi, pursued the case through the courts, ultimately securing a ruling from a court in Ancona that ordered authorities to issue a residency permit. The court considered Ehizomwengie’s integration into Italian society, his language skills, employment at the business, and his financial independence.
Palazzeschi emphasized that the permit was not granted because of the lottery winnings alone.
“Imagbe didn’t receive residency because he won money,” he said. “He received it because he demonstrated that he was a suitable candidate.”
The case has attracted significant attention across Italy, highlighting the challenges faced by undocumented migrants navigating complex legal and administrative systems.
Now settled in Falconara, Ehizomwengie says he plans to celebrate the residency decision with the local community but remains focused on building a stable future.
“I want to work and keep my feet firmly on the ground,” he said. “I just want to live a normal life.”
The remarkable story has become a symbol of perseverance, illustrating how determination and legal advocacy helped transform a lottery win into a new beginning.
