Marco Ramirez, an American CEO has been charged in court with the alleged defrauding of two Nigerians of $368,698. Speaking to the Ikeja Special Offences Court on Thursday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Mr. Ayotunde Solademi, a staff member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed that the two Nigerian defrauded were Mr. Gabriel Ogie and Mr. Oludare Talabi.
According to them, the two men invested the aforementioned amount into Ramirez’s company after claims by the latter that his company would ensure their eligibility to receive a U.S Green Card. Mr. Ramirez, along with his companies USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP, and USA Now LLC is being charged to court by the EFCC on nine counts of obtaining money under pretenses.
Mr. Ayotunde informed the court that in 2016 the Office of the Legal Attache in the U.S Consulate received a letter from EFCC requesting the FBI’s assistance in getting more details on EB-5 Investor Immigrant Programme. This was to ascertain if Ramirez’s companies had the authority to issue immigrant visas to Nigerians. The FBI several investigations into the matter and returned a negative answer.
“The main crux of our finding is that Nigeria is not a participant of the EB-5 Investor Immigrant Programme,” said Ayotunde. “If Nigeria is not a participant then no company has been given the license or right to give out the visa to them.”
After listening to the words of the prosecution and deliberating the matter, Justice Mojisola Dada, the judge in residence adjourned the case until the 24th of June, 2022, to give Ramirez the chance to present his case.
