Binance executive slumps in court during ‘money laundering’ case

Drama ensued at a federal high court in Abuja on Thursday when Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, slumped in open court.

Gambaryan, who sat way behind in the courtroom, did not proceed to the dock immediately when the matter was called by the registrar.

He later stood to approach the dock when Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, asked where the 2nd defendant (Gambaryan) was.

The Binance executive was assisted by one of the defence lawyers as he walked towards the dock. He however slumped before he got there.

Gambaryan was later assisted back on his feet and made to sit in the front row.

Explaining what transpired to the judge, Mark Mordi, Gambaryan’s counsel, said his client was ill and a letter had been filed to notify the court of his health status.

“My lord, the case may not certainly proceed today,” the lawyer added.

Gambaryan and Binance are standing trial over money laundering allegations.

On May 17, the court refused to grant bail to Gambaryan because the defendant was likely to “jump bail if granted to him”.

The court refused to grant the bail two months after Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance regional manager for Africa, escaped from the custody of the office of the national security adviser (ONSA) in Nigeria.

Anjarwalla was said to have escaped after guards on duty led him to a nearby mosque for prayers during the Ramadan period.

He fled Nigeria and was last reported to be in Kenya, where he was reportedly arrested by the police.

Anjarwalla and Gambaryan were both detained in February.

The defendants are also facing tax evasion charges before the same court.