In recent news, a federal high court in Nigeria made the decision to dismiss a human rights lawsuit filed by Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla. This lawsuit was against the country’s National Security Adviser and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The dismissal was due to a lack of legal representation for Anjarwalla, which was seen as expected given the circumstances.
Anjarwalla, a British and Kenyan citizen, was detained by the Nigerian government in February along with another Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, due to regulatory issues. However, he managed to escape custody in March using a Kenyan passport, leading to his lawyer withdrawing from the case. This escape has left his current whereabouts unknown, adding more complexity to the legal situation.
Legal Battles
On the other hand, Tigran Gambaryan remains in Nigerian custody and is facing numerous legal battles against the authorities. He is currently held at Kuje Prison and has a pending human rights enforcement application case scheduled for July 9. Despite pleading not guilty to money laundering charges, the court has denied him bail, viewing him as a flight risk.
While the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) dropped charges against Gambaryan and shifted focus to Binance, there are speculations about potential US government intervention. FBI Director Christopher Wray’s meeting with Nigeria’s President has fueled these speculations. It remains to be seen if diplomatic intervention will play a role in resolving Gambaryan’s continued detention.
Throughout these legal challenges, Binance has maintained that Gambaryan is not a major decision-maker at the company. This stance suggests that his detainment is unnecessary for resolving the issues with the Nigerian government. Despite the uncertainties surrounding the legal troubles of Binance executives in Nigeria, the situation continues to evolve.
