Federal High Court Abuja has ruled that Tigran Gambaryan, the second defendant in the ongoing arraignment of Binance Holdings Limited and its two top officials be served the charge on behalf of the company, being its certified agent within jurisdiction.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the ruling following the argument on the last adjourned date that Gambaryan cannot be arraigned and cannot receive service on behalf of Binance. The company and its two executives are charged on allegations bordering on money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The court noted that the defendants had deposed to an affidavit before the court noting that on February 26,2024 he and Nadeem Anjarwalla (at large), were invited into Nigeria for a meeting with the Federal Government as representatives of Binance, having been appointed as an official of the company since September 2021.
According to the court, there cannot be a better service of the charge on the company than through the second defendant who has been identified as an agent of Binance within jurisdiction.
The court therefore moved that Gambaryan be arraigned and the charges be read to him and where the charge affects the first defendant, a plea of not guilty be entered on its behalf.
The five-count charge bothering on money laundering was however read to the second defendant and he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
After taking his plea the court ordered that he Gambaryan be remanded in Kuje Custodial Centre, pending when trial commences.
The court however adjourned to April 18 for hearing of his bail application and May 2 for commencement of trial.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
