Abuja, Sept. 2, 2024 – A Federal High Court in Abuja has summoned the Governor the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, over the money laundering case brought against Binance Holdings Limited and its executives.
The court also extended the same summon to the Head of Legal Service of the apex bank over the same case.
They are to appear before the court today, on Monday, Sept. 2.
The case was adjourned at the previous court sitting of the court presided by Justice Emeka Nwite on the request of the defence counsel who requested for a change of date which was granted by the court.
Tigan Gambaryan, Binance USA’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance of Binance in USA, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, the British-Kenyan regional manager for Africa, are facing money laundering charges to the tune of $35m brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They were initially detained by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), but Anjarwalla reportedly escaped custody on March 22, 2024.
Gambaryan was subsequently moved from ONSA to EFCC custody and afterwards to Kuje Correctional Facility, where he is currently being held.
The court has summoned the CBN governor to produce some relevant documents pertaining to the case.
The court summon reads: “The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way, Central Business District, Abuja – FCT.
“You or any other officer you may delegate are commanded in the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to attend before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, presided over by the Honourable Justice E. Nwite, on the 2nd day of September 2024 at 9 o’clock in the forenoon, and from day to day until the above cause is tried, to bring with you and produce at the time and place mentioned the following documents.
“Certified True Copy of the Excel spreadsheet captioned ‘Export Exchange Rate Results’ published on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s website for the period from 1 June 2024 to 16 August 2024.”
In a separate document, but with similar wordings, the court summoned: “The Head, Legal Services Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way, Central Business District, Abuja – FCT.
“You or any other officer you may delegate are commanded in the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to attend before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, presided over by the Honourable Justice E. Nwite, on the 2nd day of September 2024 at the hour of 9 o’clock in the forenoon, and from day to day until the above cause is tried, to bring with you and produce at the time and place mentioned the following documents.” (GBN)
