- Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan’s money-laundering trial has been adjourned to October 11.
- The Nigerian judge handling the case is going on holiday until September.
- Gambaryan appeared in court in a wheelchair.
Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan’s incarceration in a Nigerian prison will reach the six-month mark before his next trial date.
Gambaryan has been detained in the Kuje prison near the Nigerian capital of Abuja since April 8.
On Tuesday, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the trial until Oct. 11, according to court proceedings monitored by DL News.
While long delays between trial dates aren’t uncommon in Nigeria’s court system, Gambaryan’s case is because the judge is going on holiday later this month and won’t return until late September.
Gambaryan and his employer Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, face five counts of money laundering by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The indictment includes allegations that Gambaryan and Binance concealed $35 million in illegal crypto trading proceeds from Nigerian authorities.
Both Gambaryan and Binance have pleaded not guilty.
Gambaryan’s health condition has been a recurring worry during the trial.
The executive is noticeably emaciated and has progressively looked weaker and more gaunt in court appearances.
He slumped on the first day of the trial and has reportedly suffered malaria and pneumonia.
Despite those reports, Nigerian officials say Gambaryan is well and have dismissed claims by his lawyers, family, and even visiting US lawmakers that Gambaryan’s health is in danger.
Nwite has repeatedly ordered his hospitalisation, a directive largely ignored by prison officials.
A minor drama ensued in court on Tuesday when Nwite issued a bench arrest warrant for the prison’s medical director Abraham Ehizojie for disobeying the order to release Gambaryan’s medical test results and to appear in court.
Gambaryan appeared in court on Tuesday in a wheelchair, and his lawyers said he was suffering from back pain.
Nwite said that Gambaryan can be hospitalised for 24 hours at the Nizamiye Hospital ― an upscale Turkish-Nigerian medical facility in Abuja ― at any time the Binance executive chooses and said he should be placed under tight security at the hospital.
Osato Avan-Nomayo is our Nigeria-based DeFi correspondent. He covers DeFi and tech. To share tips or information about stories, please contact him at osato@dlnews.com.
