Detained Binance Executive Drags EFCC, NSA to Court
Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan has dragged National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to court, alleging violations of his fundamental rights.
In an application dated March 18 and filed by his lawyer Olujoke Aliyu of law firm Aluko and Oyebode, Gambaryan sought redress before Justice Inyang Ekwo, requesting five measures of redress. Similarly, Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance's Africa regional manager who escaped from custody on March 22, has initiated separate proceedings before Justice Ekwo.
Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, in cases marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 and FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24, sued the Office of NSA (ONSA) and EFCC as 1st and 2nd defendants.
Gambaryan, a US citizen who oversees financial crimes enforcement on the crypto exchange platform, alleged that his detention and confiscation of his international travel passport violated Section 35(1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution, constituting a violation of their fundamental right to personal liberty. He further requested the court to order his immediate release and the return of his passport. Additionally, he sought an injunction preventing further arrests related to any Binance investigations and demanded a public apology from the defendants, along with the costs incurred.
Gambaryan stated that he visited Nigeria on February 26 alongside Nadeem Anjarwalla, representing Binance, in response to invitations from ONSA and EFCC. Despite participating in the meeting as requested, both were later detained without formal charges.
During the court proceedings, TJ Krukrubo, SAN, representing Anjarwalla and Gambaryan, informed the court of the absence of the defendants despite having been notified. Krukrubo also mentioned the notice of withdrawal of Anjarwalla's legal representation, filed on March 26.
Justice Ekwo noted the withdrawal of legal representation and adjourned the matter to April 8 to allow the applicants to seek fresh representation and give the defendants an opportunity to appear.
In the case of Gambaryan, Krukrubo said that although the cases had been served on ONSA and the EFCC, they still had time to respond. He requested a postponement, indicating that the defendants' deadline to file their claims would expire the following week.
Consequently, Justice Ekwo scheduled the next hearing for April 8 to continue the case.
Source: www.lindaikejisblog.com