There was drama at a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday as the detained Binance Holdings Limited’s executive, Tigran Gambaryan, was conspicuously absent for his trial. Justice Emeka Nwite had, on Oct. 11, fixed today for continuation of trial in the alleged money laundering charge preferred against Binance Ltd and its country representative, Gambaryan, by the EFCC. The development followed the rejection of Gambaryan’s second bail application by Justice Nwite.
Galaxy Television reports that when the matter was called on Friday, all the counsel to the parties in the case was in court except the 2nd defendant, Gambaryan. The judge then asked Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, SAN, on the whereabouts of his client while Mordi said he did not know why his client was not in court.
Also, the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, said he was surprised Gambaryan was not in court. Iheanacho therefore sought a stand down to enable them to enquire from the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCOS) on what went wrong. Counsel to Binance, Tonye Krukrubo, SAN, equally expressed worry over the absence of Gambaryan in court.
He said the EFCC should be able to explain why he was not in court. Justice Nwite then asked the NCOS officer who was in court why Gambaryan was not produced for his trial. In the open court, the officer explained that he was taken to their custody. A development that led to arguments and counter argument. This forced Justice Nwite then stood down the matter.
Meanwhile, when the court reconvened, Justice Nwite asked the NCOS officer about his findings. The officer said he had been able to get in touch with his boss adding that he learnt, the suspects is very sick, and that is why he could not be produced in court.
Mordi, who appeared for Gambaryan, prayed the court for an adjournment for a date next week, to report on the 2nd defendant’s state of health. Iheanacho did not oppose Mordi’s oral application. The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until Oct. 25 for a report about Gambaryan’s health.
