Nigerian High Court Dismisses Binance Regional Manager's Lawsuit Amid Larger Tax Evasion Dispute
Summary:
Binance's regional manager for Nigeria, Nadeem Anjarwalla, suffered a setback in the Nigerian High Court, which dismissed his lawsuit against the National Security Adviser's Office and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Anjarwalla had claimed his basic rights were violated when he was detained and his passport confiscated. However, the court rejected the case due to lack of diligent prosecution. This lawsuit is part of a larger conflict involving allegations of tax evasion and money laundering against Binance, which has increased tensions between the USA and Nigeria. Anjarwalla, who holds dual British and Kenyan citizenship, has escaped to Kenya, and Nigeria is pursuing his extradition.
Binance regional manager for Nigeria, Nadeem Anjarwalla, has experienced a setback in the Nigerian High Court where his lawsuit was thrown out, as local media outlets report. Anjarwalla claimed that his basic rights were violated by Nigerian authorities when he was held in custody and his passport confiscated. However, Justice Inyang Ekwo decreed on June 19 that Anjarwalla's case against the National Security Adviser's Office (NSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) be discarded due to a lack of diligent prosecution. Neither legal teams for Anjarwalla nor the defendants were present in court.
Anjarwalla lodged his lawsuit on March 28, declaring the actions of these agencies as unlawful. Simultaneously, Binance's attorney, Tonye Krukrubo, asked to be excused from the case. As reported by Nigeria’s financial news outlet, Nairametrics, Krukrubo's intent was to allow Anjarwalla to seek alternative legal representation. With Anjarwalla having already escaped jail and fled to Kenya, the court postponed the proceedings until June 19, during which Anjarwalla was to secure new legal representation.
Anjarwalla argues in his lawsuit that the governmental bodies had breached Section 35 (1) and (4) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended). He asserted that: “The extended detention of the claimant by the defendants is causing severe difficulty and emotional distress to the claimant, his spouse, their children and other family members."
This lawsuit exists amid a larger dispute. Anjarwalla was taken into custody on February 26 together with Tigran Gambaryan, who serves as the head of financial crime compliance at Binance. Gambaryan had arrived in the country from the USA to engage in the firm's defense regarding allegations of tax evasion and money laundering.
The cases placed against Binance have heightened tensions between the USA and Nigeria.
Related: Nigerian rulers lessen some allegations against the captive Binance executive
Separately from Anjarwalla, but on identical grounds, Gambaryan, a US national, has initiated his lawsuit against the NSA and EFCC. Gambaryan's claim is due to be heard on July 9. Gambaryan continues to retain Krukrubo as his lawyer.
In possession of British and Kenyan dual citizenship, Anjarwalla remains in Kenya while Nigeria proceeds towards his extradition. Source: Naija News
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Published At
6/19/2024 9:30:33 PM
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