Igran Gambaryan, the Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance and Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s Regional Manager for Africa, initiated legal proceedings last Thursday against Nigeria’s Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This action comes in the backdrop of the Nigerian federal government’s investigations into Binance platform’s activities. The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit had published a report accusing Binance of being utilized for funding terrorism, money laundering and other illegal activities. Furthermore, the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Yemi Cardoso, stated that Binance Nigeria facilitated $26 billion worth of illicit transactions over the past year, the sources of which have not been identified.
In response to these grave accusations, Nigerian authorities subsequently detained Gambaryan and Anjarwalla and seized their passports post a meeting regarding the queries associated with Binance’s business operations in Nigeria. Later, Anjarawalla managed to escape the country.
Gambaryan argues that his detention and the consequent passport seizure is a violation of his right to personal freedom as per sections 35 (1) and (4) of the Constitution of Nigeria. Gambaryan is requesting the Court to grant him immediate release and return his passport, a permanent injunction against further detention concerning the Binance investigations, a public apology from the ONSA and EFCC, and compensation for legal costs.
The initial legal proceedings held on Tuesday witnessed Tonye Krukrubo, the attorney representing Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, pulling out his legal representation for Anjarwalla. This withdrawal is believed to be linked with Anjarwalla’s recent escape from custody; however, the official reasons remain unspecified.
The case has been postponed until April 8, facilitating time for the ONSA and EFCC to respond and the plaintiffs to potentially engage new legal representation.
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