As the legal battles continue for Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive held in Nigeria, the courtroom drama took a dramatic turn when he fainted during his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Gambaryan, who is facing charges of foreign exchange violations and money laundering by the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had been experiencing health issues leading up to the trial.
Despite not attending a separate court session for tax evasion charges filed by the Nigerian Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on the same day, Gambaryan was present for the money laundering trial. However, his health issues became apparent when he fainted during the proceedings, prompting his defense lawyer to request a postponement for medical treatment.
Gambaryan has been detained in the Kuje Correctional Centre since April 2024 after pleading not guilty to the money laundering charges. His wife, Yuki, expressed her distress over his transfer to a facility housing known terrorists and murderers, emphasizing his innocence in the case.
The legal battles involving Binance and its executives highlight the increasing scrutiny of crypto exchanges and their operations in Nigeria. The accusations of tax evasion and manipulation of foreign exchange rates have led to calls for stricter regulation of crypto trading platforms in the country.
As the trial is rescheduled for June, the outcome of Gambaryan’s case will continue to be closely watched by the crypto community and regulatory authorities alike.
