Money laundering: Court orders arrest of medical director

From Godwin Tsa Abuja

Proceedings in the trial of a top official of Binance, Tygran Gambaryan took a dramatic turn yesterday, following an arrest warrant placed on the Medical Director, Kuje Correctional Centre, Abraham Ehizojie, by the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.

Justice Emeka Nwite made the order over Ehizojie’s failure to produce the medical report of Binance Executive, Tygran Gambaryan, who was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair. The judge had ordered the appearance of the medical director for the production of the medical report of the defendant.

However, when the matter resumed, yesterday, Ehizojie failed to appear in court in disobedience of the orders of court.

His absence incurred the wrath of the judge who granted the bench warrant as was requested by counsel to the defendant, Mark Mordi (SAN). Nwite had warned the correctional service against non-compliance to the directive. The defence counsel, Mark Mordi (SAN), had informed the court that the order given to Ehizojie had not been obeyed.

When the judge asked about the whereabouts of the medical director, a prison official, who brought Gambaryan to court on a wheelchair, stated that he delivered the instruction to the doctor last Tuesday.

“He is not here, and I expected him to be here,” the prison official added.

On his part, the prosecution counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, said he thought the doctor would be present in court. At this point, the defence counsel, Mordi, urged the court to issue a bench warrant against the doctor and that his client be taken to a hospital, so that a diagnosis could be done to determine the state of his health.

“My client came in here in a wheelchair. He has been complaining of back pain. We need to be careful of the life in our hands,” he said.

After listening to the lawyers, Nwite said how unfortunate it was that government institutions treated his instructions with levity.

“I, hereby, make an order of bench warrant on the medical doctor at the Kuje Correctional Service, Abraham, to appear before this court”, he added.

Nwite further directed that Gambaryan be taken to the Nizamiye Hospital for a medical checkup for 24 hours, at any time of his choice, but under full security. The case was then adjourned to October 11, 2024, for continuation of trial.

Tigran Gambaryan, was, yesterday, wheeled into the courtroom at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, over alleged money laundering charge.

After alerting from a vehicle that brought him to court from the Kuje Correctional Centre, Gambaryan was wheeled into the courtroom for the continuation of hearing on the five-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), preferred against him and a crypto currency firm.

When his case was called, the defendant stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock. His counsel, Mr. Mark Mordi, SAN, told Justice Emeka Nwite that his client fell ill inside the prison as his health had continued to deteriorate. Justice Nwite had, on July 5, ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service to release the medical certificate of the defendant before July 16.

Gambaryan was arrested and detained alongside his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, over alleged involvement of their firm in money laundering and terrorism financing. Even though their international passports were seized, Anjarwalla, who is the Africa Regional Manager of Binance, escaped from custody and fled to Kenya, with the government initiating the process to arrest and extradite him back to the country for trial.

The defence counsel had earlier urged the court to summon the medical doctor at the health facility of Kuje Correctional Centre, to explain why he allegedly refused to furnish him with his client’s medical report, despite an earlier order of the court.

Justice Nwite had, while rejecting his bail application on May 17, said he was not convinced that the defendant, who is facing money laundering and terrorism financing charges, would be available to face his trial once he was released on bail. The court held that based on affidavit evidence that was adduced by the EFCC, there was the likelihood that the defendant would jump bail. It, however, ordered accelerated hearing of the matter. The EFCC had, on April 23, urged the court to allow the Binance official to remain in Kuje prison.