The Federal High Court in Abuja postponed the planned arraignment of Binance Holdings Limited and its two executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, on a four-count charge of tax evasion, to April 8.
The case was adjourned due to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) inability to serve the charge on the company.
One of the defendants, Anjarwalla, who is the Africa Regional Manager of Binance, had evaded custody, prompting the Federal Government to initiate his arrest and extradition for trial.
Under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Anjarwalla can be tried in absentia.
At the hearing on Thursday, counsel to the 2nd defendant, Gambaryan, Mark Mordi, SAN, objected to the prosecution’s inability to serve Binance Holdings Limited with a copy of the charge.
Mordi argued that his client was not an agent, director, or representative of the company in the country and could not be served on its behalf.
The EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, urged the court to dismiss the objection and proceed with the trial, contending that the 2nd defendant was a representative of the company and should receive service of the charge on its behalf.
