In a new development, the Nigerian Federal High Court has once again postponed the Binance executives’ tax evasion case until June, citing Tigran Gambaryan’s absence from court.
While speculators seem to blame authorities for Gambaryan’s absence, till now, neither the Nigerian regulatory bodies nor Binance have publicly accepted responsibility for his absence, nor have either authorities explained his absence.
Commenting on Gambaryan's absence from court, Moses Idehom, a lawyer representing the revenue service, disclosed that the Nigerian prison service is responsible for making arrangements to bring the detained Binance executive to court, which invariably implies that the prison authorities possibly failed in its duties.
Following Gambrayan's absence in court on Wednesday, May 22, Judge Emeka Nwite, the presiding Judge, had no choice but to adjourn the trial again, setting June 14 as the new date for subsequent trial.
Health Concerns Emerge As Gambaryan Collapsed In Court
Meanwhile, on Thursday, May 23, Gambaryan appeared in court for the anti-money laundering hearing against Binance. However, due to ill health, he slumped when summoned by the Judge to step forward into the dock.
His lawyer, Mark Mordi, helped him get back on his feet and at the same time, sought for the hearing adjournment, citing that a written application was sent earlier to inform the court of his client's health condition.
Judge Nwite eventually ruled for the hearing Postponement to reconvene on June 20 and June 21, 2024, adding that Gambaryan should receive good medical care from any hospital recommended by his lawyer.
An Overview Of Gambaryan's Escapades In Nigeria
Tigran Gambaryan is an American citizen and Binance executive who was arrested alongside Nadeem Anjarwalla by the Nigerian authorities early this year on charges of fraud and money laundering.
While Anjarwalla had successfully fled the West African nation, Gambaryan has since been detained under strict measures to prevent a similar situation that transpired with the escaped Binance executive.
Notably, A series of court trials followed the arrest; however, owing to the many adjournments, no definite conclusion has been reached.
Worsening Situation Between The Nigerian Government And Binance
Emergent bribery charges are threatening to escalate the case even further. Binance CEO Richard Teng had publicly revealed that the Nigerian government was demanding a $150 million bribe from the cryptocurrency exchange.
However, the Nigerian authorities have denied the claim, dismissing it as a deliberate attempt by the trading platform to divert the public attention away from the cryptocurrency exchange’s crimes.
Ginger Onwusibe, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, publicly debunked Teng's accusations. He dismissed the emergent claims as blackmail tactics by Binance to force the Nigerian authorities to release Gambaryan.
