2024-04-20
Gambaryan’s attorney, Mark Mordi, expressed his disappointment with the prosecution's failure to respond to the additional affidavit that was submitted with the bail application.
The bail application hearing for Binance employee Tigran Gambaryan, who is currently detained at the Kuje correctional center in Abuja, Nigeria, has once again been postponed by the Federal High Court.
Originally scheduled for April 18, the hearing has been rescheduled to May 17, as reported by local news agency Sahara Reporter's. During the court session, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) informed the court that Gambaryan's lawyer had submitted an additional affidavit on April 16.
Senior counsel E. Iheanacho highlighted the new points raised by the defense, emphasizing the need for a proper response in the pursuit of justice. In agreement with this, the judge presiding over the case, Justice Emeka Nwite, decided to postpone the proceedings.
However, Gambaryan's lawyer, Mark Mordi, pointed out that his client has already been held in federal government custody for more than 14 days.
Mordi criticized the prosecution for their failure to file a response to the additional affidavit accompanying the bail application.
Following Gambaryan's plea of not guilty to money laundering charges by the EFCC, the trial judge remanded him in custody.
The EFCC accused Binance, Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla of concealing the source of $35.4 million revenue in Nigeria, alleging it to be the proceeds of unlawful activity.
After the EFCC arraigned the defendants, Mordi requested bail for his client under lenient conditions.
The court granted the EFCC permission to hold the Binance executives for 14 days and ordered Binance to provide the government with access to data and details of Nigerian traders using its platform.
Binance and its employees are currently facing two separate lawsuits: one from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) related to tax evasion, and another from the EFCC accusing them of money laundering and foreign exchange violations.
In addition to the ongoing legal battles, Gambaryan is also suing the government for violating his fundamental human rights.
His motion claims that his detention in Nigeria and the confiscation of his passport are in violation of the country's constitution, which guarantees the right to personal liberty.
On February 28, Nigerian officials arrested Gambaryan, along with Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan overseeing operations in Africa, during their visit to Nigeria.
The arrest took place following the government's ban on cryptocurrency channels as part of an effort to combat currency speculation. However, Anjarwalla managed to escape detention using a fake passport.
