Mr.
Ramirez was remanded following his not-guilty plea to a 16-count charge
of obtaining money under false presences. He was arraigned by the EFCC.
.
The
EFCC prosecutor, V. O. Aigboje, alleged that the accused, managing
director of three companies – USA Now Plc., Eagleford Instalodge Group
and USA Now Capital Group – committed the offences between February 2013
and August 2013. .
Mr.
Aigboje said Mr. Ramirez fraudulently received $545,000 from Godson
Echejue to invest in his company, Eagleford Instalodge Group, in order
to procure an American green card (residence permit) for him (Echejue). .
He
also allegedly received $10,000 from Abubakar Umar through a
non-existent investment programme in the U.S., which was billed to make
Mr. Umar eligible to obtain an American passport. .
The
EFCC also accused Mr. Ramirez of illegally receiving $10,000 from one
Olukayode Sodimu under the pretext that the funds were facilitation fees
with the American Immigration Services for an American green card. .
After
Mr. Ramirez took his plea, Mr. Aigboje requested that he be taken from
the custody of EFCC to prison custody. “There are no bed spaces
available in the commission. I apply that the defendant be remanded in
prison custody,” she said. .
Chukwudi
Maduka, the defence counsel, in his submission, requested that Mr.
Ramirez be kept in the custody of EFCC and not in the custody of the
Nigerian Prison Service. .
Justice
Josephine Oyefeso, however, rejected Mr. Maduka’s request and ordered
that Mr. Ramirez be remanded in prison. “The proper place for remand is
prison custody and I so order. The case is, hereby, adjourned to July 3
for hearing of the defendant’s bail application,” she said.
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