FG re-arraigns Binance on tax evasion charges

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has re-arraigned Binance on a four-count charge bordering on alleged tax evasion.

Ayodele Omotilewa, Binance’s representative in Nigeria, was arraigned on Friday before Emeka Nwite, a judge at the federal high court in Abuja.

Omotilewa pleaded not guilty to the four counts.

In the amended charge filed on June 14, Binance Holdings Limited is listed as the sole defendant.

After the plea by the Binance representative, Moses Ideho, counsel to FIRS, sought a date for the commencement of trial. The presiding judge subsequently fixed October 11 as the trial date.

Over the past few months, Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, has been facing trial in Nigeria over alleged tax evasion and money laundering.

On June 14, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) dropped the tax charges against Gambaryan.

A federal high court in Abuja discharged Gambaryan after the FIRS confirmed the appointment of Omotilewa as the firm’s representative.

However, the EFCC has yet to drop its charges against Binance and its executives.

The anti-graft body had arraigned Binance Holdings Limited, Gambaryan, Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, over allegations of money laundering.

Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were detained by the Nigerian authorities on February 28.

However, Anjarwalla escaped from the custody of the office of the national security adviser (ONSA), leaving Gambaryan to face the charges alone.