Binance Executive Gambaryan Arrives in Courtroom in Wheelchair

Detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan arrived in court in a wheelchair. During his appearance on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Gambaryan was seen wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans.

He faces a money laundering charge alongside the cryptocurrency firm. When the case was called, Gambaryan stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly to the dock.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer, Ogechi Ujam, informed the court that the lead counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, was not present, even though the trial was scheduled to continue. Ujam requested the court to delay the proceedings to allow Iheanacho to conduct the trial.

Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, representing Binance, and Mark Mordi, SAN, representing Gambaryan, did not oppose the request. Justice Emeka Nwite agreed to stand down the case until 12 p.m.

Previously, on July 5, Justice Nwite had ordered the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to release Gambaryan’s medical certificate by July 16. This order came after Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mordi, requested the court to summon the medical doctor at Kuje Correctional Centre to explain why his client’s medical report had not been provided despite an earlier court order.