Tigran Gambaryan, a detained executive of Binance Holdings Limited, was brought to the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court in a wheelchair on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Gambaryan, dressed in a black T-shirt and blue jeans trousers, faces money laundering charges alongside the cryptocurrency firm.
When the matter was called, Gambaryan stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s lawyer, Ogechi Ujam, requested a stand-down due to the absence of the commission’s lead counsel, Ekele Iheanacho. The request was granted by Justice Emeka Nwite, who adjourned the matter until 12:00 p.m.
Gambaryan’s lawyer, Babatunde Fagbohunlu, and Mark Mordi, representing Binance, did not oppose the application. On July 5, Justice Nwite had ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service to release Gambaryan’s medical certificate by July 16.
Gambaryan had collapsed in court on May 23 due to alleged ill health, and his lawyers have raised concerns about his deteriorating health while in custody.
The case has been ongoing since May, with Gambaryan and Binance facing charges related to money laundering. The court’s decision on the matter is eagerly awaited by the cryptocurrency community and legal experts alike.
