Marco Ramirez, an American, appeared before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Thursday for defrauding some Nigerians of $565,000 (about N203.4m) under the guise of helping them secure the United States Green Card.
He was charged 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.
Ramirez and his companies had sometime in 2013 defrauded Ambassador Godson Echejue, Abubakar Sodiq and Olukayode Sodimu of the said sum.
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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, while 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.
Sustaining his bail, 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.