The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, has challenged recent claims made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding his role in the trial of American businessman Marco Ramirez. Ramirez was convicted last week in Lagos for his involvement in a $1.2 million EB-5 visa scam.

In a statement issued by the EFCC following Ramirez’s conviction, the Commission alleged that the trial was delayed due to numerous adjournments caused by Mr. Pedro during his private legal practice. Ramirez, along with his companies—USA NOW LLC, Eagle Ford Group LP, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP—was sentenced to 68 years in prison by a Lagos High Court for defrauding Nigerians through the Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) US Investor Programme.

Ramirez was initially arraigned on June 22, 2017, before Justice Josephine Oyefeso of the Ikeja High Court, Lagos, and later re-arraigned in 2019 before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court on an amended 12-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining under false pretenses. Mr. Pedro, who was engaged as Ramirez’s defense counsel, handled the case until his appointment as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in September 2023.

In response to the EFCC’s statement, Mr. Pedro dismissed the allegations as misleading and accused the Commission of presenting a biased account. He explained that after his appointment in September 2023, he no longer represented Ramirez, and the defense was handled by another lawyer, David Odde of Seagate Partners.

Pedro remarked, “I have read the report and it is mischievous. It is a one-sided story aimed at disparaging me. The report fails to mention that another counsel took over the defense and appeared on the day of the judgment.”

He further criticized the EFCC for not acknowledging the defense’s argument, which included documentation proving that Ramirez had approval and a license from the US Home Office to process the visas at the time of the alleged fraud.

Pedro contended that the report was an attempt to mislead the public and tarnish his reputation. “The report is an unfortunate attempt to cast aspersions on me,” he added, emphasizing that the situation should be seen in a broader, more accurate context.