APPEAL COURT OF ASSIZES ITALY DECLARES NBM OF AFRICA NOT A MAFIA GROUP
The Appeal Court of Assizes in Palermo City, Italy in a unanimous judgment delivered on 15th day of March, 2022 acquitted members of NBM of Africa in Italy. It would be recalled that Mr Ken Osayande, Festus Pedro Erhonmosele and Mr Osahenagharu Uwagboe were arrested on allegation that the NBM of Africa which they belong to in Italy is one and same organisation as Black Axe organisation which is suspected to have same structure and operational style of a Mafia group otherwise called Cosa Nostra.
On 8th day of November 2019, the trial lower Court of Assizes in Palermo City Italy dismissed the charges of membership of mafia group, criminal conspiracy to commit extortion amongst other charges and acquitted them as there were no proof that the Pan African Socio – Cultural organisation called NBM of Africa is same as Black Axe.
The prosecutor was dissatisfied with the judgment hence filed and commenced appeal about 17th day of December, 2020 at the Assizes Court of Appeal in Palermo City Italy. The Court of Appeal presided over by Justice Angelo Pellino unanimously acquitted the accused members of NBM of Africa on grounds that there was nothing linking them to any mafia group or Black Axe.
The Appeal Court further ruled that NBM is not a mafia group. The NBM of Africa members were represented by some of the best Defence Attorneys in Italy namely Giovanni Rizzuti, Anastasia Righetti, Cinzia Pecorino, and Rocco Chinnici. While breaking the news of the judgement to the press in Lagos Nigeria, the spokesperson of NBM of Africa, Mr Oluwatosin Dixon reiterated that the judgment has finally vindicated NBM of Africa also known as Neo Black Movement of Africa that was maliciously defamed by a recent BBC documentary.
He stated further that the organisation will continue to promote African Culture, Peace, Equality and Social Justice amongst all human race in accordance with its fundamental principles and objectives as a Pan African socio-cultural organisation.
