Nigeria’s Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned Tigran Gambaryan’s executive bail request ruling until May 17.
After hearing the prosecutor and defendant’s lawyers argue about Gambaryan’s bail request, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the ruling.
The judge had previously postponed Gambaryan’s April 18 hearing until April 22. He will now rule on the matter on the new date.
Tigran Gambaryan, head of Binance’s Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) team, applied for bail and pleaded not guilty to the Economic Financial Crime Commission’s (EFCC) charges against him, Binance, and his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla.
The five-count charge, which includes money laundering charges, involves a total of $35.4 million. Gambaryan was, however, remanded to the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, Nigeria.
In his previous appearance in court, the EFCC’s counsel, Emeka Iheanacho, argued that Gambaryan’s bail request hearing be adjourned, which the Judge granted.
Additionally, the EFCC stated that the executive is a “flight risk” because his colleague Anjarwalla, who was detained alongside him, escaped custody.
However, in recent news, Nadeem Anjarwalla was tracked and found in Kenya, after he went into hiding on arrival. Also, he was reportedly arrested days ago by the Kenya Police Service and is expected to be extradited to Nigeria by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL). But, the news of his arrest was later debunked by his wife and some other top Kenyan officials.
During Gambaryan’s recent court appearance, his lawyer, Mark Mordi (SAN), pleaded for his client to be granted bail, claiming that the EFCC has no credible evidence to oppose his application.
Meanwhile, Iheanacho stated that Gambaryan attempted to apply for a new United States passport despite having his international passport seized, Mordi insisted that the EFCC’s claim was false.
“There was an attempt by this defendant to procure another traveling document even when he was aware that his passport was in the custody of the state. He pretended as if the said passport was stolen,” Iheanacho said.
He added, “this court will be taking a grave risk to grant the defendant bail. This is also because he has no attachment to any community in Nigeria.”
Alternatively, Iheanacho told the court to return Gambaryan to the EFCC custody, stating the commission will ensure he is well taken care of.
