There was mild drama at a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday when Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive facing money laundering charges, collapsed in the courtroom due to alleged ill health.
The incident occurred shortly after the case was called for trial continuation before Justice Emeka Nwite.
When the court registrar called the case, Gambaryan, who was seated in the back row, did not step forward to the dock.
Justice Nwite then asked where the 2nd defendant (Gambaryan) was, and one of the lawyers in the defense team, who sat beside Gambaryan, assisted him towards the dock. As they walked slowly, Gambaryan fell down, and the lawyer helped him sit in the front row.
Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, SAN, explained to the court why his client could not stand as soon as the matter was called.
Mordi stated that Gambaryan had been indisposed, and a written application had been filed to notify the court of his condition. “My lord, the case may not certainly proceed today,” he said. Throughout the proceedings, Gambaryan rested on the arm of his chair.
Previously, Gambaryan was absent for his arraignment in a tax evasion case filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service against him, his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla (currently on the run), and their crypto-exchange firm, Binance Holdings Limited, on Tuesday. His absence had stalled the arraignment.
At the last sitting, Justice Nwite dismissed Gambaryan’s bail application, stating that the EFCC had established that he posed a flight risk similar to Anjarwalla.
Gambaryan, Anjarwalla, and Binance Holdings Limited are facing money laundering and terrorism financing charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Gambaryan is currently being remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre.
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