Money Laundering Trial: Binance official, Gambaryan, arrives court on wheelchair

The detained top official of Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan, who is facing money laundering charge, on Tuesday, arrived the Federal High Court in Abuja on wheelchair.

Gambaryan was brought before the court from Kuje prison for the continuation of hearing on the five-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and crypto currency firm.

Cladded in a black T-shirt with blue jeans trousers, the defendant stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock when his case was called up.

It will be recalled that the Binance official had on May 23, collapsed in the court room.

His lawyer, Mr. Mark Mordi, SAN, told trial Justice Emeka Nwite that the defendant fell ill inside the prison, adding that his health had continued to deteriorate.

Following an application by counsel to the defendant, the trial judge, on July 5, ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service to release his medical certificate before July 16.

Mordi, SAN, had prayed the court to summon the medical doctor at the health facility of Kuje Correctional Centre, to explain why he allegedly refused to furnish him with his clients medical report, despite an earlier order of the court.

The court had on May 17, declined to release the defendant on bail, pending the determination of the case against him.

Justice Nwite said he was not convinced that the defendant, who is facing money laundering and terrorism financing charge, would be available to face his trial once he is released on bail.

According to the court, the defendant failed to present sufficient materials to sway its discretion in his favour. The court held that based on affidavit evidence that was adduced by the EFCC, there was the likelihood that the defendant would jump bail.

It, however, ordered accelerated hearing of the matter.

The EFCC had on April 23, urged the court to allow the Binance official to remain in Kuje prison.

The anti-graft agency maintained that it got a reliable intelligence that plans were afoot for the defendant to escape from custody and flee the country like his colleague.

It told the court that the defendant had attempted to secure a brand new international passport from the embassy of the United States of America.

EFCC further alleged that the defendant is an Armenian citizen by birth, saying there was a clear danger that he would jump bail if released from custody.

The defendant had in an application he filed on April 4, relied on provisions of sections 157 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, to plead for bail.

He contended that the charge the EFCC preferred against him contained bailable offences, insisting that under the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, he is presumed innocent of the allegations against him.

His lawyer argued that the prosecution failed to place any evidence before the court to establish that his client posed a flight risk.

The prosecution has not presented any credible evidence to establish why the defendant should not be granted bail, the defense lawyer submitted, adding that the claim that his client was planning to escape from the country was based hearsay, unreliable and inadmissible evidence.

My client is anxious and very desirous to prove his innocence. This whole thing is that they want to use the defendant as a leavrage to obtain information from his employer. That is basically what this case is all about.

This is purely a state sanctioned hostage taking, the defence counsel added.

He, therefore, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail and stipulate conditions that would ensure his attendance to his trial.