Binance Exec Tigran Gambaryan Pleads Not Guilty in Nigeria

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Binance Exec Tigran Gambaryan Pleads Not Guilty in Nigeria – Crypto News

Published

1 year ago

April 8, 2024

Dripp

Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty in the money laundering case. According to local media reports, the court has also noted that the allegations made against Mr. Gambaryan’s escaped colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla, which he refused to comply with, are unfounded. The EFCC detained Mr. Anjarwalla until his escape last month.

Binance Executive Maintains Innocence in Money Laundering Case

Tigran Gambaryan, a representative of Binance, entered a not-guilty plea to the money laundering accusations brought by the Nigerian government against him in the Federal High Court’s Abuja Division.

Additionally, the court also marked that Gambaryan’s plea of not being charged with his companion’s charges was not feasible. According to Nigerian law, accused individuals or entities who are not physically present in the nation may have their cases handled by representatives. The court’s opinion was based on this provision.

At present the case has been adjourned till April 18th with the court maintaining its decision to keep Tigran Gambaryan in the Kuje prison.

Binance Attempts to Help Tigran Gambaryan

The accusations laid down on Binance in Nigeria have dampened its image in the entire crypto world. The seriousness of these charges cannot be overstated, as they directly cast doubt on Binance’s ethics and reputation while also bringing up issues with its regulatory compliance.

However, Binance has previously promised to work with Nigerian authorities to ensure Gambaryan’s safe return to his family in response to the detention. Binance had highlighted the professionalism and integrity of the executive in custody while taking a polite approach to the accusations made against them.

However, as the stalemate continues, more and more governments are calling for intervention in the matter, with Gambaryan’s wife pleading with the US administration for strong assistance.

Binance’s Tussle with the Nigerian Government

The imprisonment of Binance officials in Nigeria, which is being closely observed by the global cryptocurrency community, highlights the difficulties and complications that the sector faces in changing legal environments.

The episode highlights more general issues about the relationship between international diplomacy, regulatory enforcement, and cryptocurrencies, in addition to the immediate problems for the persons involved.

The Nigerian government had accused Binance of facilitating the processing of $26 billion in untraceable cash, and there were rumors that Binance was being demanded to pay a whopping $10 billion fine. The Nigerian government, however, later refuted reports that it would punish the firm with $10 billion.