An American national, Marco Antonio Ramirez, was yesterday remanded in prison by an Ikeja High Court for allegedly defrauding three Nigerians of $565,000.The defendant who acted as the Managing Director of three firms, USA Now Plc, Eagleford Instalodge Group and USA Now Energy Capital, pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the EFCC prosecutor, V.O Aigboje, Ramirez committed the offenses between February and August 2013. He was accused of allegedly collecting $10,000 from one Olukayode Sodimu under the pretext of facilitating an American Green Card with the U.S. Immigration Services.
The American was further accused of fraudulently obtaining $10,000 from one Abubakar Umar through a fictitious investment program in the U.S. in order for the latter to be eligible for a US green card.
Ramirez was also accused by the EFCC of also collecting $545,000 from one Ambassador Godson Echejue under the pretext that the money was meant for investing in his company Eagle Ford Limited in order to facilitate procuring of a US green card.
According to the complainants, Prince Ejikeme Ubanagum Mgbemena and Frank Ifaluyi Egbon, the suspect allegedly assured them that he would invest the money under the Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5).
The complainants further alleged that the suspect promised to provide American Green Card for members of their families below 18 years. Count one reads: “That you Marco Anthonio Ramirez, being the Manager of Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA NOW LLC and you EAGLE Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now LLC on or about 21st of May, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud obtained through an account titled Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP domiciled at Well Fargo Bank USA the sum of Fifty- Five Thousand United States Dollars ($55,000) from one Ejikeme Ugbanagum Mgbemena under the false pretence of investing for him under the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) Regional Center Program with pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.’’
The EFCC prosecutor prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody, pending trial.Ramirez’s counsel, Chukwudi Maduka, asked the court to remand his client in EFCC custody as against Ikoyi or Kirikiri Prisons.
He further argued that they had just received the charge and that they needed time to file a bail application, while also notifying the court that Ramirez was already on administrative bail in the EFCC Abuja office where he is also facing fraud charges.
The prosecutor, however, informed the court that they were out of bed space at the EFCC detention center.The presiding judge, Justice Josephine Oyefeso alternatively remanded Ramirez in Kirikiri prisons and adjourned the matter till July 3 for a hearing of the bail application. (NAN)
