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20/06/24
139
Binance Executive’s Lawsuit Dismissed by a High Court in Nigeria
Local reports in Nigeria have shown that the Nigerian High Court dismissed a lawsuit brought against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Security Adviser (NSA) by Binance regional manager Nadeem Anjarwalla.
According to the filing on March 28, Anjarwalla claimed that the Nigerian government agencies violated his fundamental rights by detaining him and seizing his passport. He asked the court to declare their actions illicit and order the withdrawal of the case.
Anjarwalla, who escaped prison and fled to Kenya, was not present in court. The request was made by Binance’s lawyer, Tonye Krukrubo, noting that Anjarwalla had other representations. The court had to suspend the proceedings until June 19.
On June 19, Judge Inyang Ekwo ruled to dismiss his suit against the government agencies due to “want of diligent prosecution.” Anjarwalla’s legal representatives or respondents did not appear in the court.
Anjarwalla’s lawsuit claimed that the agencies’ actions were against the stipulations of the Nigerian constitution, specifically Section 35 (1) and (4) (as amended). “The continued detention of the Applicant by the Respondents is causing immense hardship and emotional stress on the Applicant, his wife and children and other members of his family,” reads the lawsuit.
Both Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan were placed in detention by Nigeria’s government four months ago after they travelled to defend Binance against charges of tax evasion and money laundering.
On June 4, several members of the U.S. Congress sent a letter to President Joe Biden, Secretary U.S. Department of State, and Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs asking them to bring Binance employee Tigran Gambaryan home.
On June 6, several former federal prosecutors and federal agents sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urgently requesting that the State Department do more to ensure that Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan is released from detention in Nigeria.
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