The Federal High Court in Abuja has set May 17th as the hearing date for the Federal Inland Revenue Service’s (FIRS) appeal to serve the charge against Nadeem Anjarwalla, a top executive of Binance Holdings Limited who fled from detention while awaiting trial.
Moses Ideho, Counsel for FIRS, hinted at plans to serve the charge of the fleeing defendant on Tigran Gambaryan, the defendant who has been available since the case began.
This comes only days after the Presiding Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, determined that it was proper to serve the charge against Binance, the case’s initial defendant.
The judge allowed the prosecution’s application, stating that the defendant may represent the cryptocurrency exchange company.
The defendant’s counsel, Chukwuka Ikwazuonu, however, stated that it was wrong to serve a criminal charge against another defendant on his client, forcing the judge to defer the case for a decision on the form of service.
Anjarwalla Escapes From Custody
Last month, Anjarwalla escaped the custody of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
He was a suspect in the Federal Government’s ongoing probe into Binance activities in Nigeria,
“The Office of the National Security Adviser confirms that Nadeem Anjarwalla, a suspect in the ongoing criminal probe into the activities of Binance in Nigeria has escaped from lawful custody on Friday, 22 March 2024,” the NSA Office said.
“Upon receiving the report, the Office of the NSA took immediate steps, in conjunction with relevant security agencies, MDAs, as well as the international community, to apprehend the suspect.
“Preliminary investigation shows that Mr Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport,” it said.
“The personnel responsible for the custody of the suspect have been arrested, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to his escape from lawful detention.”
Until his escape, Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan citizenship and serves as Binance’s Africa Regional Manager, was facing trial in Nigerian courts.
The suspect escaped while under a 14-day remand order by a court. He was scheduled to appear before it again on April 4, 2024.