EFCC rearraigns American for defrauding Nigerians of $565,000

TRACKING>>- EFCC has rearraigned an American, Marco Antonio Ramirez, for defrauding Nigerians of $565,000

– The anti-graft agency rearraigned Ramirez before an Ikeja special offences court, Lagos

– Ramirez was arraigned alongside his companies, USA Now LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge group LP and USA Now capital group

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned an American, Marco Antonio Ramirez, before an Ikeja special offences court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding some Nigerians in the tune of $565,000 under the pretence of securing America’s green card.

New Telegraph reports that Ramirez was re-arraigned on Thursday, June 20, before Justice Mojisola Dada on an amended 12 counts charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining under false pretence.

Tracknews.ng gathered that the American was arraigned alongside his companies, USA Now LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now Capital Group.

The defendants were first arraigned sometimes in June 22, 2017, before Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the same Ikeja division on a 16 counts charge of the offences and pleaded not guilty to the alleged crimes.

It was gathered that following his not guilty plea, Justice Oyefeso admitted him to bail in the sum of $25, 000 USD.

The EFCC alleged in a charge marked ID/2763c/2016, that the American and his companies sometimes in February 2013 and August 2013 in Lagos, defrauded three Nigerians of the said sum.

Those allegedly defrauded by the American and his companies are: Ambassador Godson Echejue, Abubakar Umar Sodiq and Olukayode Sodimu.

However, midway to the defendant’s trial, his case file was transferred to Justice Dada, and was consequently re-arraigned on Thursday, June 20.

During the proceedings, after the defendant’s plea was taken, the prosecuting counsel, N. S. Oweize, asked the court for a trial date.

But the defence counsel, Ademola Adefolaju, not opposing to the request for a trial date, pleaded with the court to allow his client continue with the bail terms earlier granted him by the previous judge.

When asked by the judge, if the defendant has full complied with the bail term, Adefolaju confirmed that his client had fully complied and has been visiting EFCC’s office as directed by the court.

Justice Dada thereafter said, “having not been show any breaching of the bail terms granted by my brother Judge, the defendant is hereby allow to continue with the terms.”

Meanwhile, Tracknews.ng had previously reported that the Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday June 17, arraigned one Paul Afolabi before Justice Patricia Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in the state capital.

It was reported that Afolabi, who was said to have operated through the name William Sharon, was arrested in Ibadan by operatives of the commission after receiving an intelligence report in which he and other suspects were alleged to be members of a syndicate formed to dupe people through the internet.