September 1, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Head of Legal Services to appear in court on September 2, producing specific documents, in relation to the money laundering case against Binance Holdings Limited and its executives.
The case, previously adjourned to October 11, was brought forward by a month after a request by the defense counsel. Binance executives Tigan Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla face $35m money laundering charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Gambaryan, currently detained at Kuje Correctional Facility, and Anjarwalla, who fled custody on March 22, 2024, are accused of financial crimes. The court has issued a Subpoena Duces Tecum, requiring the CBN officials to appear or delegate a representative, in the case filed as FHC/ABCR/138/2024.
The court’s decision comes as part of the ongoing trial, which has seen several developments, including the detention and subsequent flight of one of the accused executives. The case continues to unfold, with the September 2 court date expected to bring new developments.
In the document titled Subpoena Duces Tecum, with charge number: FHC/ABCR/138/2024, between the Federal Republic of Nigeria versus Binance Holdings Limited and Tigran Gambaryan, the court asked the apex bank’s heads to appear before it or delegate someone to do so.
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.”
In a separate document but with similar wording, the court summons, “The Head, Legal Services Department, 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 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.
