By Milcah Tanimu
In the ongoing trial of Binance Holdings Ltd and its executives before a Federal High Court in Abuja, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) encountered a hurdle as the trial faced delays. Two witnesses were presented by the EFCC during the resumed proceedings, as informed by their lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, before Justice Emeka Nwite.
The anti-graft agency had filed a five-count charge against Binance Holdings Ltd and its top officials, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla (currently at large), accusing them of conspiring to conceal the origin of financial proceeds, including $35.4 million, from alleged unlawful activities in Nigeria.
Despite Gambaryan’s remand in Kuje Correctional Centre following the arraignment, the trial encountered complications, notably with Anjarwalla escaping lawful custody and fleeing to Kenya before being arraigned.
During the recent court session, Iheanacho asserted that trial proceedings were scheduled to commence, confirming the presence of two witnesses. However, Tonye Krukrubo, representing Binance Ltd, contested this, stating that his client had not been served with court documents pertaining to the matter.
While Iheanacho claimed that all defendants, including Binance, had been duly served, Krukrubo insisted on proof of service for his client’s defense. Despite efforts to locate the proof of service in the court record, it couldn’t be found.
In light of this, Justice Nwite summoned the bailiff responsible for serving the documents. The bailiff reported that he attempted to serve Binance through Gambaryan at Kuje Correctional Facility but was unsuccessful, with the documents still in his possession.
Consequently, Justice Nwite ordered Iheanacho to serve Krukrubo with an extra copy of the documents in open court. Krukrubo then requested an adjournment to review the documents ahead of trial commencement.
The judge granted the adjournment until May 17, emphasizing the need for diligence from the prosecution to avoid further delays. “It behooves on you, as prosecution, to do all within your power in the trial because I am not going to entertain any delay in this trial again,” Justice Nwite warned.