Categories: World News

American Defraud Nigerian Green Card Seekers Of $565,000

An American, Marco Ramirez, was on Thursday re-arraigned before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja for allegedly defrauding some Nigerians of $565,000 (about N203.4m) on the pretext of helping them secure the United States Green Card.

He was arraigned alongside his companies, USA Now LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now Capital Group by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on amended 12 counts bordering on conspiracy and obtaining under false pretences.

According to the EFCC, Ramirez and his companies, sometime in February 2013 and August 2013 in Lagos, defrauded Ambassador Godson Echejue, Abubakar Sodiq and Olukayode Sodimu of the said sum.

The defendant and his companies had been arraigned on June 22, 2017, before Justice Josephine Oyefeso on 16 counts bordering on the same offences and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following his not guilty plea, Justice Oyefeso admitted him to bail in the sum of $25,000.

However, midway into the trial, the case file was transferred and he was subsequently re-arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada.

After taking his plea, Ramirez’s counsel, Ademola Adefolaju, urged the court to allow his client to continue with the bail terms set by the previous judge.

When asked by Justice Dada if the defendant had complied with the bail terms, Adefolaju confirmed that his client had fully complied and had been going to the EFCC’s office as directed by the court.

Granting the request, Justice Dada said, “Having not breached the bail terms granted by my brother judge, the defendant is hereby allowed to continue with the terms.”

The matter was adjourned till October 7, 8, 9 and 10 for trial.

Source: PUNCH

Recent Posts

Osun Assembly Passes Lottery, Real Estate Regulatory Bills

The Lotteries and Gaming Bill and the Estate Agency Regulatory Authority (Establishment) Bill has been…

4 hours ago

FG Orders Release of Detained Minor Protesters

  Embarrassed by growing international scrutiny and condemnation, the Federal Government on Monday ordered the…

5 hours ago

Tinubu Bows To Pressure, Orders Release Of Arraigned Malnourished Minors

President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate release of all the minors detained for allegedly…

7 hours ago

Shock As Senior Govt Official Involved In Over 400 Sextapes

In a scandal that has sent shockwaves across Equatorial Guinea and West Africa, Mr. Baltasar…

8 hours ago

Tinubu Swears In Seven New Ministers

  President Bola Tinubu on Monday swore in seven newly appointed ministers at the Presidential…

10 hours ago

“How I Killed 76 Women For Ritual To Bank Managers, Politicians”

A mysterious man from Ibadan, Oyo State, who claims to have become a pastor, has…

12 hours ago

This website uses cookies.