Court discharges Binance executives in tax evasion charge

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has discharged the executive of Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan, and his fleeing colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, from the alleged tax evasion charge preferred against the company by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Presiding judge Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on Friday, June 14, 2024, discharged and struck out Gambaryan and Anjarwalla’s names from the four-count charge after FIRS’ counsel, Moses Ideho, filed a fresh amended charge wherein Binance is listed as sole defendant.

While Binance is the 1st defendant is the May 17 amended charge filed by FIRS, Gambaryan was listed as 2nd defendant, while Anjarwalla’s name appeared as being at large.

When the matter was called on Friday, Gambaryan stepped into the dock.

Tonye Krukrubo (SAN), who appeared for Binance (1st defendant), informed the court that the cryptocurrency firm had just appointed a representative in Nigeria.

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The new appointee, who was also in court, stood up and announced his name as Ayodele Omotilewa.

Ideho confirmed that his office received a notice of appointment of a representative by Binance.

He said the notice was dated June 13, 2024, appointing Ayodele Omotilewa as its agent in the country.

The FIRS lawyer told the court that against the development, an amended four-count charge listing Binance as sole defendant was filed on June 13.

He therefore applied that Omotilewa should be docked to take a plea on behalf of the company.

Krukrubo, however, disagreed with Ideho’s application.

The lawyer, who argued that the company’s representative was yet to be served with the fresh amended charge, said Omotilewa was only appearing in court for the first time.

He insisted that the prosecution had not served them with the amended charge.

Krukrubo said Omotilewa ought not to enter the dock.

According to him, he was only appointed for specific purposes; to receive processes.

“He is one of us; a legal practitioner,” he said.

Justice Nwite, thereafter, granted the prosecution application for the substitution of the June 13 amended charge for the one slated for May 17.

The judge, who set aside the earlier order directing Gambaryan to be served on behalf of the company, discharged him from the dock.

On the controversy whether the Binance executive should be docked or not, the judge ordered the parties to file written addresses to state their arguments.

Justice Nwite, therefore, adjourned the matter until July 12 for plea.

The Star