FG to arraign Binance executives over ‘tax evasion’ on April 4

The federal government will charge Binance, Tigran Gambaryan
and Nadeem Anjarwalla, senior executives of the cryptocurrency firm, on
allegations bordering “tax evasion” on April 4.

Gambaryan is Binance’s head of financial crime compliance,
and Anjarwalla is the company’s regional manager for Africa.

On March 25, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) had
filed a criminal charge against Binance for “tax evasion”.

According to the service, the move aims to uphold fiscal
responsibility and safeguard the economic integrity of the country.

The lawsuit, designated as suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024,
is said to “implicate Binance with a four-count tax evasion accusation”.

However, on Thursday, NAN reported the federal government
will charge the three defendants before Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, at
the federal high court (FHC) in Abuja on a four-count charge.

Despite not being a vacation judge, according to the report,
the chief judge granted the fiat for the judge to oversee the case during
vacation because it is a matter of critical national interest.

The lawsuit comes a month after Anjarwalla and Gambaryan
were detained by the Nigerian authorities.

Anjarwalla and Gambaryan had flown into Nigeria but had
their passports seized by ONSA.

On March 12, Anjarwalla was transferred to a local hospital
after he fell ill while in detention in Nigeria.

However, on March 25, Anjarwalla escaped from custody and
fled Nigeria with a smuggled passport.

Meanwhile, Gambaryan, on March 28, sued Nuhu Ribadu, the
national security adviser (NSA) and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), alleging violation of his fundamental rights.