Court Dismisses Binance Executive Nadeem Anjarwalla’s Rights Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Nadeem Anjarwalla, an executive of Binance Holdings Ltd, against the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court dismissed the suit due to lack of diligent prosecution, citing Anjarwalla’s lack of a representative during the proceedings.

Background

Anjarwalla, a 37-year-old British-Kenyan and Binance’s regional manager for Africa, had filed the suit alleging that his detention and the seizure of his international travel passport contravened Section 35 (1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He sought a declaration that his detention and the seizure of his passport violated his fundamental right to personal liberty as guaranteed by the constitution.

Legal Proceedings

Anjarwalla’s representative, Tonye Krukrubo, SAN, withdrew from the case before the most recent court appearance in March 2024.

This led to the court dismissing the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.

The court also fined Anjarwalla’s colleague, Tigran Gambaryan, N50,000 in favor of the EFCC for joining issues in the matter.

Gambaryan’s Suit

Gambaryan, a 39-year-old US citizen and Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, is facing charges bordering on money laundering with the EFCC and tax evasion with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

His suit, which is still ongoing, has been fixed for hearing on July 9, 2024.

FIRS Suit Against Binance

In a separate suit filed by the FIRS against Binance, the crypto exchange, and its executives for tax evasion, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were dropped as defendants, leaving Binance as the sole defendant.

This was after FIRS confirmed Ayodele Omotilewa as Binance’s representative.

Ongoing Legal Battles

The Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla dismissed court case comes after he fled detention in March 2024 and was reportedly seen in Kenya.

His colleague, Gambaryan, is currently in court-ordered custody to face ongoing trial on money laundering charges.

The ongoing legal battles involving Binance executives in Nigeria reflect the growing regulatory scrutiny faced by the crypto industry globally.

Conclusion

The court’s decision highlights the challenges faced by individuals who fail to maintain diligent prosecution in their legal cases.

It also underscores the importance of having a representative in court proceedings to ensure that cases are properly managed and prosecuted.

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