Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has postponed the hearing for the detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan's bail request until Tuesday.
Gambaryan, his company, Binance Holdings Limited, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, a colleague currently on the run, were accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of supposedly committing a crime as stated in the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
All three defendants were accused of collaborating to hide the origin of their alleged illegal funds in Nigeria amounting to $35,400, 000.
At the resumed hearing, EFCC lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, requested more time to respond to an affidavit served by Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, (SAN).
Mordi disagreed with Iheanacho’s request for more time, suggesting they could respond immediately to the application in order to proceed with the bail plea.
Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, expressed concern about his client's detention, insisting on a fair process.
Mordi proposed to the judge to stand down the matter so they could reply and proceed.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter for the sake of justice.
The judge stated that lawyers have the right to respond within the legally specified time frame.
Gambaryan was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre after pleading not guilty to the money laundering charges.
Efforts are being made by the Nigerian government to rearrest Anjarwalla and bring him back to the country to face charges by the EFCC and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
