Binance Executives Slam Fundamental Rights Suits On EFCC, NSA, Ask Court To Order Their Immediate Release
THE two Binance executives detained on the order of a magistrate court, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, have accused the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of violating their fundamental human rights.
In separate suits filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the detainees in their originating motions sought a declaration that their detention and seizure of their international travel passports contravened Section 35 (1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution.
They therefore urged the court to order the NSA and the EFCC to release them from their custody and return their international travel passport with immediate effect.
They also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further detaining him in relation to any investigation into or demands from Binance.
They also urged the court to order the respondents to issue a public apology to them.
The suits are delineated as FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 and FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24.
They averred that they were in Nigeria to honour the invitation of the ONSA and EFCC to discuss issues relating to Binance in Nigeria.
However, at the proceedings on Thursday, T.J. Krukrubo (SAN) appeared for the plaintiffs, while the respondents had no representation.
Krukrubo informed the court that the respondents were served two days ago.
Shortly after that, he announced to the court that he was withdrawing from further representation of the fleeing Nadeem Anjarwalla.
He did not give reasons for his withdrawal.
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that Nadeem Anjarwalla last week escaped from the guest house where he and Gambaryan were being kept. His whereabouts are yet unknown even as the Nigerian security forces have launched a manhunt for him. He was said to have travelled out of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Gambaryan argued that he had not committed any offence during the meeting, and neither was he informed in writing of any offence he personally committed in Nigeria at any other time.
“The only reason for his detention is because the government is requesting information from Binance and making demands on the company,” he added.
Justice Inyang Ekwo later adjourned further hearing in the suit till 8 April.
Tigran Gambaryan, a United States citizen and Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan who is Binance’s regional manager for Africa, flew to Nigeria following the country’s decision to ban several cryptocurrency trading websites and were detained on arrival on 26 February 2024.
Eighteen-Eleven Media
