Justice Mojisola Dada of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has fixed Tuesday, September 10, 2024 to deliver judgement in the alleged $1.2million fraud trial of one Marco Antonio Ramirez, an American businessman.
Judgement will also be delivered in another separate charge bordering on an alleged $368,698.24 fraud brought against him.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting him on an amended 16-count charge which involves the alleged $1.2million fraud.
Count 13 of the amended charge reads: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, between 5th February 2013 and 18th April 2013 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonourably converted to your personal use the aggregate sum of $545,000 property of Godson Onyemaechi Echegile.”
Count 14 reads: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, between 12th July 2012 and 7th November 2012 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonourably converted to your personal use the aggregate sum of $314,800 property of Abubakar Umar Sadiq.”
Count 15 reads: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, between 19th February 2013 and 18th April 2013 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonourably converted to your personal use the aggregate sum of $230,000 property of Abubakar Umar Sadiq.”
The alleged $368,698.24 fraud is contained in a separate amended nine-count charge.
One of the counts reads: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, USA NOW LLC, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, on or about the 26th day of July, 2013 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $250,000 from Gabriel Ogie Edeoghon under the false representation that the sum was his investment in your company: USA NOW Energy Capital Group LP in the Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) United States of America Investor Programme, which investment would qualify him to be eligible to a USA Green Card, and which representation you knew to be false.”
Another count reads: “Marco Antonio Ramirez, on or about the 5th day of March, 2014 at Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $50,281.33 from Oludare Talabi, under the false representation that the said sum is to procure United States of America L1 VISA programme for him, which representation you knew to be false.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges.
After several adjournments occasioned by the absence of the defence counsel, Lawal Pedro, SAN, and the inability of the defence to file its own final written addresses, after prosecuting counsel, M.S. Owede and S.O. Daji, had filed theirs for the separate charges, respectively, the adoption of the final written addresses finally took place on May 8, 2024.
Following the adoption, Justice Dada adjourned till September 10, 2024 for judgement.
