The Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged Binance executive Tigran Gambayran from money laundering charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Emeka Nwite discharged Gambayran on Wednesday on health grounds, corroborated by the EFCC.
The EFCC informed the court that the case could not proceed on the last adjourned date due to Gambayran’s health condition, which, according to him, the state has managed effectively.
The Commission stated that a report from the Nigerian Correctional Service, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), now indicates that Gambayran’s health has deteriorated to the extent that he can hardly walk without the assistance of a wheelchair, in addition to suffering from other health issues.
What Transpired in Court
In open court, the EFCC acknowledged that Gambayran needs to undergo surgery and that the surgery and recovery will take some time, potentially impacting the pace of the trial.
The Court then adjourned till November 22 for continuation of EFCC’s trial of Binance.
The court’s ruling ends the detention of the Binance employee, whom the EFCC accused of playing a role in foreign exchange contravention.
Backstory
- On February 28, 2024, Nigerian authorities detained two senior Binance executives: Nadeem Anjarwalla, a 37-year-old British-Kenyan who serves as the regional manager for Africa, and Tigran Gambaryan, a 39-year-old American who is the head of financial crime compliance at Binance.
- Nairametrics reports that the executives filed a fundamental rights case against agencies of the Nigerian government, citing a violation of their constitutional right to liberty.
- The duo was sued by the EFCC and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), alongside Binance, on the grounds of tax evasion, foreign exchange contravention, and money laundering.
- Anjarwalla later fled Nigeria while in detention, while Gambaryan remained in detention based on a court order.
However, Gambaryan’s family continued to raise concerns about his health while urging the EFCC to release him and pursue its case against Binance.
