The detained Binance Holdings Limited’s executive, Tigran Gambaryan, on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, arrived at the Federal High Court in Abuja in a wheelchair.
Dressed in a black T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans trousers, Gambaryan, stood up from the wheelchair and slowly walked into the accused dock at the instance of the court registrar.
Gambaryan is facing money laundering and tax evasion charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On May 23, the Binance executive collapsed in the open court over alleged ill-health. Five days later, the law firm representing the defence, Aluko & Oyebode, approached the court with claims that Gambaryan might die in Kuje Correctional Centre over his alleged deteriorating health.
EFCC’s lawyer absent
At today’s hearing, EFCC’s lawyer, Ogechi Ujam, informed the court that although the matter was scheduled for the continuation of trial, the commission’s lead counsel, Ekele Iheanacho was not in court.
Ujam prayed the court to, stand down the matter to enable Iheanacho to conduct the trial.
Appearing on behalf of the first and second defendants – Binance and Gambaryan – Babatunde Fagbohunlu and Mark Mordi, SAN did not oppose the application.
To this, Justice Emeka Nwite stepped down the matter until noon.
Tigran Gambaryan’s health and summon for medical certificate
Recall that the judge had earlier ordered the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to release the medical certificate of Gambaryan on or before July 16.
The judge’s order followed an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer, praying the court to summon the medical doctor at the health facility.
According to Mordi, it is appropriate for Kuje Correctional Centre and the doctor to explain why they allegedly refused to make available his client’s medical report despite an earlier court order.
