The judge approved Gambaryan’s attorney’s plea for a postponement so the NSA and EFCC could respond, delaying the hearing for April 8.
Tigran Gambaryan, Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, has filed a complaint in the Federal High Court of Nigeria, seeking an apology for his incarceration in the nation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
According to Gambaryan, his fundamental human rights as protected by the Nigerian constitution are violated by his arrest and the confiscation of his passport.
Even though Gambaryan was only present at a meeting in Nigeria, he claims that the federal government is using his continued arrest as leverage to put pressure on Binance. The case highlights that rather than imprisoning Gambaryan, Nigeria has other options for communicating with Binance.
In addition, the Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance has asked the court to return his passport right away and to apologize in public. A similar lawsuit has also been made by Binance’s Africa regional manager, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who was held with Gambaryan. It has been reported that Anjarwalla just escaped from detention in Nigeria.
Judge Inyang Ekwo was notified by Gambaryan’s attorney during the court session that the respondents had received their application, giving them a chance to answer. The judge accepted the attorney’s request for an adjournment so that the NSA and EFCC could react, moving the matter to April 8.
In the Nigerian crypto community, there’s speculation and concern surrounding the situation involving the Binance executives. Chineduokoli_ and ObiUcheUzoije are among those expressing various theories and questions.
Chineduokoli_ is doubtful about the possibility of receiving proper justice in a Nigerian court, while ObiUcheUzoije questions the timing of the lawsuit filing by the Binance executive and wonders if the escape of their colleague prompted it.
Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan citizenship, reportedly arrived in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on February 25th. The court allowed the EFCC to detain the Binance executives for 14 days and mandated Binance to provide the government access to data and information about Nigerian traders using its platform.
The Federal High Court of Nigeria is set to arraign Binance and the two executives on April 4th. Meanwhile, the government intends to seek Interpol’s assistance in recapturing Anjarwalla for trial.
March 2024, Cryptoniteuae
