By Taiye Agbaje
THE FEDERAL Government Nigeria (FGN) on Wednesday withdrew the money laundering charge filed against the detained Binance Holdings Limited’s executive, Tigran Gambaryan, due to his ill-health and diplomatic intervention.
Gambaryan was the 2nd defendant in the charge preferred against the cryptocurrency platform (1st defendant) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFCC’s counsel, R. U. Adagba, who held the brief of Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, told Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court, Abuja of the FGN’s decision to withdraw the charge against the detained employee because of his deteriorating health.
She, however, informed the court that the anti-graft agency would continue the charge levelled against the company, Binance Holdings Limited.
After listening to Adagba and the defence counsel, Justice Nwite discharged Gambaryan from the charge and ordered his release from Kuje Correctional Centre.
The defendants were arraigned on a 5-count charge bordering on alleged tax evasion, currency speculation and money laundering to the tune of $34,400,000 (Thirty-Four Million, Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
The Binance representative’s bail application was rejected twice by the court.
NAN reports that Justice Nwite had, on Oct. 18, fixed Friday, Oct. 25, for a report on the health status of Gambaryan.
The development followed an information from an officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) who was in court on the last adjourned date that Gambaryan’s absence in court was due to his ill-health.
The matter was however rescheduled for today due to the urgency of the case.
Upon resumed hearing, EFCC’s counsel, Adagba, told Justice Nwite of the Federal Government’s decision to withdraw the charge against the detained employee of Binance because of his deteriorating health.
Adagba recalled that the case could not go on at the last adjourned date as a result of the health condition of the 2nd defendant which, she said, the government had managed effectively.
She, however said that recently, the report they received from the NCoS, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), indicated that Gambaryan’s health had deteriorated to the extent that he hardly walked without the assistant of wheelchair.
Adagba said besides his ill-health, Gambaryan needs to undergo a surgery which surgery and recovery would take some time that may impact on the pace of the trial.
He stated further that the government had reviewed the case and had taken cognisance that Gambaryan, a U. S. citizen, was a mere employer of Binance Holdings Ltd, “whose status in the matter has no impact.”
The lawyer equally told the court that the prosecution had taken into consideration of some critical diplomatic and international meetings by Federal Government, hence, the need to discontinue the charge against the 2nd defendant (Gambaryan).
“I urged the honourable court to discharge the 2nd defendant accordingly in line with Section 108(1), (2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015,” she prayed.
Lawyer to Binance, Olujoke Aliu, and Gambaryan’s counsel Mark Mordi, SAN, did not oppose the application.
However, Mordi, who told the court that since one of the reasons for withdrawal of the case was that Gambaryan was just an employee of Binance, urged the court to make an order for his client’s acquittal and not a discharge.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Nwite granted Adagba’s application.
“It is hereby ordered as follows: That the application of the prosecution’s counsel is granted as prayed having reviewed the circumstances of the charge.
“That this charge is hereby struck out against the 2nd defendant (Gambaryan).
“That the 2nd defendant is hereby discharged.
“That an order of this honourable court is hereby made for the immediate release of the 2nd defendant from Nigerian Correctional Service, Kuje,” the judge ruled.
He consequently adjourned the matter until Nov 22 and Nov. 25 for continuation of trial.
NAN observes that Gambaryan was again not in court. (NAN)
