American Citizen arrested and sent to a maximum prison in Nigeria for defrauding 3 Nigerians of $565,000

An American citizen Marco Antonio Ramirez has been arrested in Nigeria after he duped 3 Nigerian men of $565,000 in the city of Lagos. Ramirez, duped the 3 men after promising to secure them an American US passport.

He faced the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission court Thursday where he pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge of obtaining money under false presences.

One of the victim, Godson Echejue alleged investing $545,000 in one of Ramirez's companies in exchange for a US green card.

Another victim Olukayode Sodimu paid Ramirez $10,000 thinking the money was part of the fees for a green card. 

The third on the list, Abubakar Umar. Abubakar paid Ramirez $10,000 for a non-existent investment program that would make him eligible for a US passport.

Ramirez's attorney told the court on Thursday that his client international passport had been forfeited as part of a bail application. The judge refused Ramirez's bail application and ordered him to be held in the kirikiri maximum prison. He would next appeared in court, July 3.