Court Summons CBN Governor, Legal Head for Binance Trial Documents

A Federal High Court in Abuja has summoned the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Head of the Legal Services Department of the apex bank to appear with specific documents on Monday, September 2.

This appearance is for the continuation of the money laundering trial against Binance Holdings Limited and its executives.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that during the last court session, the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, had initially postponed the case to October 11. However, following a request from the defense counsel, the court agreed to reschedule the trial, moving it up by a month.

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The charges, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), involve Binance USA’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, Tigran Gambaryan, and the exchange’s British-Kenyan Regional Manager for Africa, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who are accused of laundering $35 million.

Initially, both Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were detained by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Anjarwalla, however, escaped custody on March 22, 2024. Gambaryan was subsequently transferred from ONSA to EFCC custody and is currently held at Kuje Correctional Facility.

 

The court’s order, issued in a document titled “Subpoena Duces Tecum,” with charge number FHC/ABCR/138/2024, requires the CBN officials to either appear in person or delegate a representative. The subpoena specifically requests the submission of a Certified True Copy of the excel spreadsheet titled “Export Exchange Rate Results,” published on the CBN’s website for the period from June 1, 2024, to August 16, 2024.

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It read, “The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way, Central Business District, Abuja – FCT.

“You or any other officer you may delegate are commanded in the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to attend before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, presided over by the Honourable Justice E. Nwite, on the 2nd day of September 2024 at 9 o’clock in the forenoon, and from day to day until the above cause is tried, to bring with you and produce at the time and place mentioned the following documents.

“Certified True Copy of the excel spreadsheet captioned ‘Export Exchange Rate Results’ published on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s website for the period from 1 June 2024 to 16 August 2024.”

A similar summons was issued to the Head of the Legal Services Department of the CBN, commanding them or a delegated officer to attend the court proceedings and present the requested documents.

“You or any other officer you may delegate are commanded in the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to attend before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, presided over by the Honourable Justice E. Nwite, on the 2nd day of September 2024 at the hour of 9 o’clock in the forenoon, and from day to day until the above cause is tried, to bring with you and produce at the time and place mentioned the following documents,” part of the subpoena read.

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