American ‘dupes’ Nigerians of $565,000 for issuance of US Green Card

An Ikeja High Court yesterday remanded an American, Mr Marco Antonio Ramirez, in Kirikiri Prison for allegedly defrauding three Nigerians of $565,000.
The defendant, who claimed to be the Managing Director of USA Now Plc, Eagleford Instalodge Group and USA Now Energy Capital Group, will remain in custody, pending the hearing of his bail application.
His remanded followed his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Josephine Oyefeso on a 16-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence.
He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Mrs V.O Aigboje said Ramirez committed the offence between February and August 2013.
Ramirez was alleged to have collected $10,000 from Olukayode Sodimu under the pretext facilitating the issuance of an American Green Card by the US Immigration Services.
He was also alleged to have fraudulently obtained $10,000 from Abubakar Umar through a fictitious investment programme in the US that would make him eligible for a US green card.
Ramirez was also accused of collecting $545,000 from Ambassador Godson Echejue under the pretext of investing it in his company, Eagle Ford Limited, to facilitate the procuring of a US green card.
The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant in prison pending his trial.
But, Ramirez’s counsel, Chukwudi Maduka urged the court to remand his client in EFCC custody and not in prisons.

Ramirez, he said, was on EFCC’s administrative bail.
But, the prosecutor said the EFCC facility was over stretched, adding that the defendant be kept in prison.
Ruling, Justice Oyefeso ordered the defendant remanded in prison stressing, “the proper place for remand is prison. I so order”.
She adjourned till July 3.