The Head of the apex bank’s Legal Services Department and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have been summoned by a Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, to appear before it on Monday, September 2, with specific documents. This is the new date for the trial to continue in the money laundering case against Binance Holdings Limited and its executives.
The defence team requested a date modification, which the court approved by moving the trial forward one month earlier than scheduled. Justice Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, postponed the case to October 11 in the previous court session.
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has charged Binance USA’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, Tigan Gambaryan, and the exchange’s British-Kenyan regional manager for Africa, Nadeem Anjarwalla, with $35 million in money laundering.
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At first, the Office of the National Security Adviser jailed both Gambaryan and Anjarwalla.
On March 22, 2024, Anjarwalla, on the other hand, escaped from official custody. Meanwhile, Gambaryan was transferred from ONSA custody to EFCC custody and then to Kuje Correctional Facility, where he remains detained today.
The court summons
The court summoned the chiefs of the apex bank to appear before it or designate someone to do so in the document titled Subpoena Duces Tecum, with charge number FHC/ABCR/138/2024, between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Binance Holdings Limited and Tigran Gambaryan.
It read, “The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way, Central Business District, Abuja – FCT.
“In the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you or any other officer you may designate are directed to appear before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, chaired by the Honourable Justice E. Nwite, on September 2, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., and to bring the following documents with you and produce them at the specified time and location each day until the cause above is tried.
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“Certified True Copy of the Excel spreadsheet captioned ‘Export Exchange Rate Results’ published on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s website from 1 June 2024 to 16 August 2024.”
In a different but identically worded notice, the court summons, “The Head of Legal Services Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way, Central Business District, Abuja – FCT.
“In the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you or any other officer you may delegate are commanded to appear before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, presided over by the Honourable Justice E. Nwite, on September 2, 2024, at 9.00 am, and from day to day until the above cause is tried, to bring with you and produce at the time and place mentioned the following documents,” the subpoena stated.