Filippo Ferlazzo, 33, was sentenced to 24 years in prison for beating to death a Nigerian man, Alika Ogorchukwu, in Italy.
On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, the court of Assizes of Macerata convicted Ferlazzo, of Salerno near Naples, for the aggravated willful murder of the 39-year-old physically challenged Nigerian street hawker.
On July 29, 2022, Ogorchukwu was assaulted in broad daylight while hawking on the streets of Civitanova Marche, which is located in the Province of Macerata, March Region of Italy.
The inmate bludgeoned Ogorchukwu to death with his crutches, then straddled him, crushing his neck and skull.
This happened in front of several onlookers who did not intervene. Some of the onlookers, however, recorded videos of the attack using their phones.
On July 30, 2022, Filippo Ferlazzo, was arrested on murder charges.
According to the Italian police, Ferlazzo attacked Ogorchukwu after he requested Ferlazzo’s girlfriend to get him a handkerchief.
A few days later, two protest marches were conducted in a village on Italy’s Adriatic coast to demand justice for the Nigerian whose death made international news.
Meanwhile, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has expressed pleasure with the justice meted out to Filippo Ferlazzo.
“I am glad that this case finally got justice. Like I always say, there has to be consequences for actions,” she said in a statement issued by NiDCOM spokesperson, Gabriel Odu on Thursday, September 28.
Dabiri-Erewa commended the Nigerian Mission in Rome, for following through with the case and other cases involving Nigerians.
NiDCOM Boss urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to remain law-abiding, excel in what they do and never forget home by giving back to their homeland.
