Nigerian court postpones money laundering trial of Binance and execs

As a seasoned crypto investor with a keen interest in the global regulatory landscape, I find the ongoing legal proceedings against Binance executives Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla in Nigeria disconcerting. The latest delay in the trial, which was initially scheduled for May 2, raises concerns about the strength of the evidence against them.


The trial of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who has been held in Nigerian custody since February, has allegedly been pushed back to May 17 following yet another adjournment in the court proceedings.

As a crypto investor following the Binance case closely, I’ve learned that according to a recent Reuters article, Binance’s legal representatives have mentioned they haven’t received essential documents to progress with money laundering allegations against Binance, Gambaryan, and Anjarwalla. The trial was initially scheduled for May 2, but the judge postponed the proceedings until May 17 to give the defense team adequate time to examine these crucial documents.

The money laundering trial involving Binance, Gambaryan, and Anjarwalla, which is being conducted independently, has seen all three parties enter not-guilty pleas. A bail hearing for Gambaryan is slated for May 17th.

In February, Anjarwalla and Gambaryan journeyed to Nigeria to refute allegations that Binance had interfered with the naira, Nigeria’s fiat currency. Upon their arrival, they were taken into custody on charges of tax evasion and money laundering. However, reports suggest that Anjarwalla managed to elude captivity and decamp to Kenya, where he enjoys dual citizenship alongside the United Kingdom. As of April 30, Interpol announced that the extradition process for Anjarwalla was progressing.

As a researcher examining this situation, I’ve come across criticisms voiced by many regarding the justification behind the Nigerian government’s charges against the Binance executives. The arrests occurred shortly after Binance declared its intention to halt naira transactions, leading some to question the timing of these detentions. According to Binance, Gambaryan held no significant decision-making authority within the company.

In a distinct criminal proceeding in the U.S., a judge passed a four-month prison term on Changpeng Zhao, the ex-CEO of Binance, on April 30, after his admission of guilt for neglecting to uphold an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program. The date for Zhao’s surrender to a correctional facility in Oregon or Washington remains undetermined.

Read More

2024-05-02 19:06