A Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, has once more delayed the hearing for the bail application of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who remains incarcerated at the Kuje correctional center.
Originally slated for April 18, the court has now set the hearing for April 22, as reported by local news agency Nairametrics.
During the recent court session, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) informed the court that Gambaryan’s lawyer submitted an additional affidavit to his bail application on April 16.
Senior counsel E. Iheanacho underscored new arguments presented by the defense, necessitating time for a thorough response in the pursuit of justice.
Presiding judge Justice Emeka Nwite concurred with the need to adjourn the proceedings. Nonetheless, Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, voiced concern over his client’s prolonged detention in federal custody, spanning over 14 days.
Mordi criticized the prosecution for its failure to file a response to the supplementary affidavit submitted with the bail application.
Gambaryan pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges by the EFCC, which accuses Binance, Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla of concealing the source of $35.4 million revenue in Nigeria, allegedly derived from unlawful activities.
Mordi requested lenient bail conditions for his client, following the court’s acceptance of the EFCC’s arraignment. However, the court granted the EFCC a 14-day extension to detain the Binance executives and ordered Binance to provide government access to Nigerian traders’ data on its platform.
Binance and its executives are embroiled in two separate lawsuits: one from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) related to tax evasion and another from the EFCC regarding money laundering and foreign exchange violations.
Gambaryan has also initiated legal action against the government for allegedly violating his fundamental human rights. His motion contends that his detention and passport confiscation contravene Nigeria’s constitution, which safeguards personal liberty.
Nigerian authorities arrested Gambaryan and Anjarwalla on Feb. 28 during a visit, following the government’s prohibition of cryptocurrency channels as part of efforts to mitigate currency speculation. Anjarwalla managed to evade detention using a fake passport.
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