 The Minister of Information and Culture, Elijah Lai Mohamed, has said that the photo government will take possession of Nigeria's looted artifact whenever they are returned. He cleared the air on these in Lagos at a news conference on the efforts by the photo government to repatriate looted and small good artifacts from around the world. Mohamed was reacting to the controversy that had thrilled who would take the possession of the expected artifact between the Oba Benin, Oba Awara II, and Edo State Governor Gardiner Basike. The Minister, however, said the photo government was the entity recognized by international laws as the authority in control of antiquities originating from the country. Have joined in us on the studio, Edo State Former Commissioner for Art, Culture and Tourism, Osasei, Osemwenge Eru. Thank you for joining us. Thank you so much for having me. Good evening everyone. Good evening, good to have you. There have been a lot of back and forth about this matter and it's beginning to look like it's been put to rest finally. But then in your time as Commissioner for Art, Culture and Tourism, you are the forefront of the fight to repatriate all Benin-stolen artifacts wherever they were across the globe. So how did you go in particular? How did you go about how did you go in your own time? Can you describe how the struggle went? Well, I think there's been a group of people and individuals fighting for the repatriation of those artifacts. And I would say as a Benin son or a Benin person and as the Commissioner for Culture, they know we're very passionate about it. First of all, to raise our creative awareness about these artifacts and let the people know that these artifacts are in various different museums across the globe. And in 2018, during the inaugural New Festival for Arts and Culture that we did in the States, we had the opportunity to have a photo exhibition of over 1,000 of those artifacts in the correct location across the globe. We have them in the various museums in Europe and America, and we're able to show the photo exhibition of those artifacts at their current location during the Igué Festival of Israel Majesti Emanobanedu Bolo in 2018. And we had the photo exhibition where the Governor inaugurated the Commission, the exhibition. And that created a lot of awareness for the visitors that came to the palace at that time to know that these artifacts are in these museums, in Berlin, in Minnesota, in New York, London, Germany, Switzerland and France. So which was very good. And the feedback that we had then as a ministry was that people that go to those museums, we're not asking questions. They say, no, this thing belongs to Benin and it should be returned back. So there was a lot of pressure on them and there were a series of meetings, emails, committees and meetings and all that talking about the return of those artifacts. I'm glad now that Germans have taken the lead to return the artifacts back to Nigeria and of course to Benin and those that we had belongs because that is what they do want, they do people want. That's what the Yorba of Benin wants. That's what we want as a state to say that we need this artifact back in our state. I see. Okay, now the Minister of Information and Culture has said the federal government is going to have to take custody of the artifacts whenever they are returned. What are you taking this? Well, I don't know why it made a decision because I've not been in the country, I came in yesterday. So I don't know what led to him making that decision. I was not part of the Amithin, I was not in the committee and all that. So I cannot really speak to that. But I think in my personal opinion that those things belong to Benin and they should be returned back to Benin. Like I said, I don't know why it made a decision on what's going on. Okay, you've not been around. There are reports that in November 2020, you were arrested in something in Amsterdam, in Italy, in France. Where exactly were you arrested? What were you arrested for? I was actually arrested on 2nd of December 2019, not November. I'm not in France. I was arrested in Amsterdam on my way for an official duty to discuss the artifacts in Berlin. We're actually on our way to Germany, the capital of Germany, on the invitation of his Excellency, the Injurian Ambassador to Germany, Mohammed Tuga, when I was arrested in Amsterdam. I was surprised at the arrest, confused at the beginning, only to be informed that I was wanted in Italy for mafia-related offenses. Like I said, it was a surprise to me and to my family and my friends for that. But we went through that, tried to find their tradition, tried to know what actually was a crime or alleged crimes in Italy. But we didn't get any evidence until after two months, the extradition process failed and I was instructed to Italy, to Rome on the 21st of February 2020. Okay, now because it's a good thing that you're here to clear the air on these misgivings, on these controversies. Some say November 2020, some say it was in Italy, some say it was in Amsterdam, others say it was in France. Okay, what were the reasons for your arrest and detention? Also, in the same breath, I also wanted to address this, clear the air once and for all. A lot of people say you were accompanying Governor Basick on a trip when you were arrested. Was it official, was it an official trip? Like I said, we're going for a meeting in Berlin on invitation. Was it official? Of course, we're going for the meeting for the artifact and the commissioner for local government and Cheetah and say if it wasn't with me, we followed that people. We didn't have anything to do with the governor. The governor was not in that meeting, I mean that trip. I was not traveling with the governor. We were going to have a meeting with the Nigerian ambassador to Germany, Mohamed Tuga, you know, three o'clock on that second of December. So he has nothing to do with France, he has nothing to do with governor, has nothing to do with money, all the nonsense that was ins speculated on social media and even on established media houses. Okay, did they find evidences to their allegations against you? No, of course not. I was just a victim of racial discrimination and manipulation of the Italian justice system by a very corrupt prosecutor, Dr Stefano Castellani. He is a very corrupt prosecutor and they were trying to manipulate the justice system from the beginning to the end. And this thing here has used that process to convert over 300 Nigerians in prison in Italy. So I was surprised that I was arrested, so we tried to file a case in court. On the 9th of March 2020, we had the opportunity to be in court and my lawyers applied, you know, went for a freedom court, which I got my free, I was released, only for the prosecutor to issue another arrest warrant without even leaving the prison premises. So I went through the trial in Rome and on the 10th of July 2020, we went to the pre-trial. So I was still hoping that at the pre-trial, I would be released because you cannot arrest somebody without evidence. And it's strange, you know. So on the 10th of July, how does it judge what was the evidence against me that you accused me of a mafia kingpin? And the allegations are gross because I was accused of the 416 B's, which is the highest Italian mafia criminal code that has to do with importation and exportation of firearms, importation and exportation of drugs, cocaine, prostitution, human trafficking, extortion, killing, kidnapping, etc. So you cannot accuse somebody of this kind of even without any single evidence or proof of your allegations. So I went through the trial and, of course, I opted for the long trial, which we compelled the prosecutor to produce evidence against me. So the case was now adjourned from September, from September to October, from October to November, eventually had a day in court on the 24th of November 2020. Was that when you were fined and released? No, no, no. So what were you fined for? That is just the beginning of the process. That was released on the 29th of May, May 2021. Okay, okay, then. So well, so it was this year you were fined and released because they couldn't find any evidence. No, there was no single evidence against me. Just about your official duty? Of course. According to you. Okay, if you're still, because we're really pressed for time, so I'm trying to see how we can wrap this up quickly. If you, if you're still the commissioner for culture, arts and tourism in your state, what advice would you be giving Governor-Governor Vasekid now? If you're still the commissioner, unfortunately, I'm not the commissioner. I know if you were still in the position to give the government, your state government advice. What kind of advice are you talking about? What kind of advice are you talking about? How things that could move the safe forward economically and security-wise? No, the governor is very wise and knows what he's doing. And I'm sure once he constitutes his cabinet, you have commissioners to work with. And what about the artifact? How would you advise him to handle the artifacts? Would you advise him to go with the flow of the federal government and allow the federal government to hold the artifact and keep them? Or would you say it should stand as ground and say, no, it's for the state, belongs to the state. We are taking back what belongs to us. The governor is very wise enough. I know what he needs to do. I don't think the governor will stand and let the artifact be collected and taken by the federal government. But this is the government thing. We work with the federal, the state. And if you hear the governor several times, he'll talk about the tripod system whereby, even the collaboration of the powers, the government and the federal government, because no individual can actually fight for the return of this artifact without the federal government. That's why you have them involved. And you need the state government as well to be involved. And of course, you need the palace, the royal majesty, the above being. Who is the custodian of our culture, to be fully involved in this as well. So I think that is what they are doing. So I'm sure the governor knows what he's doing and he's very wise and I'm sure the most important that these artifacts are coming back home. Not just only Germany, we have France, we have Britain, we have other countries that have those artifacts abroad. So the most important is for us to work closely so that we have the certified bar for the other people. Mr. Azir, thank you very much for joining us on the show tonight. He's the former commissioner for culture, arts and tourism in Edouston. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Hello. Hope you enjoyed the news. Please do subscribe to our YouTube channel and don't forget to hit the notification button so you get notified about fresh news updates.