- Binance Holdings Limited’s arraignment was delayed because FIRS failed to serve charges; the lawyer cites the inability to arraign without proper notification
- Only one defendant was represented in court; FIRS acknowledged failure to serve charges and requested adjournment; police vow to rearrest fugitive
The arraignment of Binance Holdings Limited and two of its executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, scheduled for Thursday, could not proceed due to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) failing to effect service of the charge on the defendants.
When the matter was called before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja, only Gambaryan was represented by a lawyer.
Observing the absence of legal representation for both the company and Anjarwalla, who recently escaped from lawful custody, Gambaryan’s lawyer, Chukwuka Ikwuazo, SAN, informed the court that his client had not been served with the charge, rendering his arraignment impossible.
FIRS lawyer Moses Ideho acknowledged the agency’s failure to serve Gambaryan with the charge, citing difficulties reaching the defendant at the EFCC’s detention.
The court directed that the charge be served on Gambaryan in the dock, following which Ideho sought an adjournment to allow Gambaryan to consult with his lawyer.
Ikwuazo did not oppose the oral application for adjournment, leading to the matter being adjourned until April 19 for Gambaryan to enter his plea.
In a related development, the police high command vowed to rearrest Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance Regional Africa Manager, who escaped from lawful custody. Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, assured that there would be no hiding place for the fugitive.
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