An American citizen, identified as, Marco Antonio Ramirez
has been arrested in Nigeria after he duped three Nigerian men $565,000 in green
card scam. Ramirez is being held at Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos.
Believed to be from Dallas, Texas, Ramirez is accused of
scamming tens of thousands of dollars from each of the three Nigerian men with
the promise of securing them an American green card or US passport.
He was dragged to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
court on Thursday where he pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge of
obtaining money under false presences.
Ramirez was arrested in April over the alleged scam. The
court heard he was the managing director of three American companies - USA
Now Plc., Eagleford Instalodge Group and USA Now Capital Group.
He is accused of duping the men between February 2013 and
August 2013.
Prosecutor V. O. Aigboje told the court that Ramirez was
paid $545,000 by Amb. Godson Echejue. The alleged victim thought he was
investing in one of Ramirez's companies in exchange for a US green card.
Another man, Abubakar Umar, allegedly paid the American $10,000 for a non-existent investment program that would make him eligible for a US passport.
The third alleged victim, Olukayode Sodimu, paid Ramirez
$10,000 thinking the money was part of the fees for a green card.
Ramirez's attorney Chukwudi Maduka told the court on
Thursday that his international passport had been forfeited as part of a bail
application.
The judge opposed bail and ordered him to be held in the
prison.
His next court appearance in July 3.
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