Detained Binance executive, Gambaryan, brought to court in wheelchair

Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance Holdings Limited, was brought into the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday in a wheelchair.

The cryptocurrency company and Gambaryan appeared in court for a hearing on money laundering charges.

When the matter was called, Gambaryan stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock.

Ogechi Ujam, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, informed the court that, despite the scheduled continuation of the trial, the lead counsel, Mr. Ekele Iheanacho, was unable to appear in court, prompting a request for a brief adjournment.

Ujam urged the court to stand down the case in order to allow Iheanacho to conduct the trial.

Counsel for the defendants, Mr. Babatunde Fagbohunlu (SAN), representing Binance (1st defendant), and Mr. Mark Mordi (SAN), representing Gambaryan, did not raise any objections to the application, indicating their consent to the request made by the EFCC’s lawyer.

Persecondnews recalls that Justice Nwite issued a directive on July 5, mandating the Nigerian Correctional Service to produce and submit Tigran Gambaryan’s medical certificate by July 16 at the latest.

Justice Emeka Nwite stepped down the case until noon.

Mordi, the defence counsel, requested that the court subpoena the medical doctor from the Kuje Correctional Centre’s health facility to testify about the reason behind the delay in releasing Gambaryan’s medical report, despite a previous court order.

This development comes after Gambaryan reportedly collapsed in court on May 23 due to his deteriorating health.

The law firm of Aluko & Oyebode, representing the defence, sounded the alarm on May 27 that Gambaryan’s health was rapidly deteriorating and that there was a high risk of him succumbing to his condition while in custody at Kuje Correctional Centre, unless urgent action was taken to address his medical needs.