A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of cryptocurrency exchange platform Binance, in Kuje Correctional Centre, News About Nigeria reports.
This decision was made pending the determination of his bail application following his arraignment on Monday.
Gambaryan appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite to face charges of money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Upon pleading not guilty to the charges, the trial judge ruled to remand him in custody until the bail application is resolved.
Subsequently, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to April 18th for the ruling on Gambaryan’s bail application, with the commencement of the trial scheduled for May 2nd.
Recall that on February 28, Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, were detained by the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
However, Anjarwalla escaped from detention in March.
Reports indicate that Mr. Anjarwalla, 38, escaped on Friday, March 22, from the Abuja guest house where he and Gambaryan were detained.
Guards on duty reportedly escorted him to a nearby mosque for prayers, from where he is believed to have flown out of Abuja using a Middle East airliner.
Anjarwalla is said to have boarded an international flight despite his British passport, with which he entered Nigeria, remaining in the custody of the Nigerian authorities.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has assured the public that the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) is actively pursuing the re-arrest of Nadeem Anjarwalla.
Egbetokun said this last Thursday during a press briefing at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja.
When asked about Anjarwalla’s escape, he said, “I am not going to tell you what INTERPOL is doing, but I must tell you that we are doing a lot. I can assure you that the suspect will be re-arrested.”
