A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr. Abraham Ehizojie, the medical officer at Kuje Correctional Centre. The order came after Dr. Ehizojie failed to produce the medical report of detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, despite previous court directives.
Justice Emeka Nwite made the ruling on Tuesday, expressing frustration at the apparent disregard for court orders by a government institution. The judge also ordered Gambaryan, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, to be admitted to Nizamiye Hospital for a 24-hour medical examination under strict security surveillance.
Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, has been in custody since February, facing money laundering charges alongside the cryptocurrency exchange. His legal team, led by Mark Mordi SAN, has raised repeated concerns about his deteriorating health, citing a herniated disc causing severe back pain.
The case has drawn international attention, with Gambaryan’s family pleading for his release and proper medical care. His colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, reportedly escaped from custody in March, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal saga.
The charges against Binance and its executives stem from allegations of laundering over $35 million and operating without proper licensing in Nigeria. The country’s authorities have accused the cryptocurrency platform of contributing to its currency woes, as it became a popular avenue for trading the Nigerian naira amid chronic dollar shortages.
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In a separate but related case, Binance faces tax evasion charges, though the court recently dropped charges against Gambaryan and Anjarwalla in that particular suit.
As the legal proceedings continue, the court has adjourned the money laundering trial to October 11 and 18, 2024. The case underscores the growing tensions between global cryptocurrency operations and national financial regulations, with significant implications for both the crypto industry and Nigeria’s economic policies.