Binance executive appears in court on wheelchair for ‘money laundering’ trial

Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance Holdings Limited, arrived the Abuja federal high court on Tuesday in a wheelchair.

In April, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the cryptocurrency firm and Gambaryan on a five-count charge bordering on money laundering.

At the resumed court session on Tuesday, Gambaryan who was wheeled in, stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock.

Ogechi Ujam, EFCC counsel, told the court that even though the matter was scheduled for continuation of trial, Ekele Iheanacho, the commission’s lead counsel, was not in court.

Ujam prayed the court to stand down the matter to enable Iheanacho to conduct the trial.

Babatunde Fagbohunlu, a lawyer who appeared for Binance; and Mark Mordi, Gambaryan’s counsel, did not oppose the application.

Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, stepped down the matter.

On May 23, the second defendant had collapsed in court due to “ill-health”.

On May 27, his law firm raised the alarm that Gambaryan could die in the Kuje correctional centre if his health continues to deteriorate.

Mordi had prayed the court to summon the medical doctor at the Kuje prison to explain why he had allegedly refused to release the defendant’s medical report despite an earlier court order.

On July 5, the judge ordered the management of the prison to release the medical certificate of Gambaryan on or before July 16.