The detained head of Binance Financial Crime Compliance Unit, Tigran Gambaryan, who is facing a money laundering charge in Nigeria, slumped on Thursday during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The development occurred shortly after the case was called for continuation of trial before Justice Emeka Nwite.
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UNITY TIMES reports that the Court ordered on April 8, that Gambaryan be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending a ruling on his bail application following charges of alleged complicity in money laundering filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Consequently, Justice Nwite had on May 16, dismissed Gambaryan’s bail application on the ground that the EFCC had been able to establish that the defendant, who is currently being remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre, would jump bail if granted.
Recall that Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance Regional Manager for Africa, had on March 22 escaped from the Abuja guest house, where he and his colleague, Gambaryan, were detained.
Binance and its executives are facing a five-count charge bordering on money laundering. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
When the case was called on Thursday by the court registrar, Gambaryan did not step forward to the dock from the back-row seat where he was seated. When Justice Nwite asked about the 2nd defendant (Gambaryan), one of the lawyers in the defence team, who sat beside Gambaryan, held him by the side towards the dock.
As they walked slowly to the dock, Gambaryan fell, and the lawyer assisted him to sit in the front row seat.
Explaining to the court why his client could not stand as soon as the matter was called, Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi (SAN), said he had been indisposed and a written application letter had been filed to notify the court of his failing.
“My lord, the case may not certainly proceed today,” he said.
Gambaryan rested on the arm of the seat where he was sitting throughout Thursday’s proceeding.