Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr Abraham Ehizojie, the Medical Doctor at the Kuje Correctional Centre, for allegedly refusing to produce the medical report of Binance Holdings Ltd’s detained executive, Tigran Gambaryan.
Justice Nwite issued the ruling on Tuesday in response to an application filed by Gambaryan’s counsel, Mark Mordi.
Gambaryan arrived at the courthouse in a wheelchair.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has preferred charges against him and the cryptocurrency corporation for money laundering.
On July 5, Justice Nwite ordered the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to release Gambaryan’s medical certificate on or before July 16.
Mordi filed an application, and the judge issued the order.
Mordi had requested that the court summon Ehizojie to explain why he allegedly refused to provide his client’s medical report despite an earlier court order.
On May 23, Gambaryan collapsed in open court due to supposed illness.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mordi stated in open court that the judge’s order had not been followed.
The judge then questioned the prison official who had brought Gambaryan to court about the development.
The prison official stated that he received the court order and delivered it to the doctor on July 9, 2024.
The EFCC attorney, Ekene Iheanacho, informed the judge that he believed the medical officer will be in court today.
Mordi then requested that the court issue a bench warrant for the correctional centre’s medical officer to appear in court on the next adjourned date.
The lawyer also asked the court to order his client’s immediate hospital remand so that a full medical investigation could be performed to determine his genuine state of health.
Iheanacho, who did not object that the defendant should receive sufficient treatment, disputed that Gambaryan be placed on hospital remand.
After hearing counsel’s arguments, Nwite stated that it was sad that a government institution would treat a court ruling with levity.
“I hereby make an order of bench arrant on the medical doctor at the Kuje Correctional Service, to appear before this court,” according to him.
He further directed that Gambaryan be transferred to the Nizamiye Hospital for medical attention for 24 hours, at any time of his choosing, but under strict security observation.
The judge postponed the trial to October 11 and 18, respectively, to allow for further proceedings.
Previously, Dr. Olubukola Akinwunmi, Head, Payment Policy and Regulation Division of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), testified and was cross-examined by Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, counsel for Binance, the first defendant in the criminal case.