Arraignment of Binance Holdings Limited Officials Delayed Due to Service of Charge
The arraignment of officials of Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan and one other, hit a roadblock yesterday as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) faced challenges in serving the charge on one of the accused individuals. The delay in service led to the postponement of the arraignment proceedings before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Gambaryan was the only defendant represented by a lawyer during the scheduled arraignment. The absence of legal representation for the company and the other accused individual, Anjarwalla, who recently escaped from custody, further complicated the situation.
Gambaryan’s lawyer, Chukwuka Ikwuazo (SAN), informed the court that his client had not been served with the charge, making it impossible to proceed with the arraignment. The FIRS lawyer, Moses Ideho, confirmed the failure to serve Gambaryan due to his unavailability at the EFCC’s detention facility.
In a bid to move forward, Ideho requested the court to serve Gambaryan in the open court, leading to the judge’s directive for the charge to be served on him in the dock. Subsequently, the lawyer sought an adjournment to allow Gambaryan to consult with his legal counsel, a request to which Ikwuazo did not object.
The case, involving four counts, is set to be heard on April 19, as per the charge filed by the FIRS on March 22. The defendants are accused of failing to register with the FIRS while offering services on the Binance platform, thereby evading tax obligations under various tax laws.
The adjournment to April 19, 2024, marks the next step in the legal proceedings, highlighting the complexities surrounding the case and the importance of ensuring due process in the judicial system.
