The Binance executive currently in detention, Tigran Gambaryan, has initiated legal action against the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for purportedly violating his fundamental rights.
The finance executive lodged the lawsuit through an originating motion dated and submitted on March 18 by his legal representative, Olujoke Aliyu.
Furthermore, Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance Africa regional manager who fled lawful custody on March 22, filed a distinct lawsuit seeking enforcement of his rights before Justice Ekwo.
In the cases identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 and FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla brought legal action against the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the first and second respondents.
Both individuals sought identical remedies in their respective suits.
Gambaryan, a US citizen overseeing financial crime compliance at the cryptocurrency exchange platform, outlined in his application a request for a declaration that his detention and confiscation of his international travel passport violated Section 35 (1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended).
He asserted that these actions constituted a breach of his fundamental right to personal liberty as guaranteed by the Constitution.
Additionally, he sought an order for the respondents to release him from their custody and promptly return his international travel passport.
Furthermore, Gambaryan pursued an order of perpetual injunction to prohibit the respondents and their agents from further detaining him in connection with any investigation or requests from Binance.
In addition to these requests, he also petitioned for an order requiring the respondents to issue a public apology to him and sought the costs of this legal action on a full indemnity basis.
In a statement supporting the lawsuit, he clarified that he is an American citizen who traveled to Nigeria on February 26, alongside Nadeem Anjarwalla, as a representative of Binance, to honor the invitations extended by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to discuss matters concerning Binance’s operations in Nigeria.
Presenting an 11-point argument for why his application should be granted, he highlighted that both he and his colleague, Anjarwalla, attended the meeting as requested.
Following the meeting, they were detained by the respondents and have remained in custody since then.
He emphasized that he did not commit any offense during the meeting and was not formally notified in writing of any offense he allegedly committed in Nigeria or at any other time.
He remarked, “The sole reason for his detention is the government’s request for information from Binance and its demands on the company.” Furthermore, he clarified that he was not a member of Binance’s Board of Directors.
During the proceedings on Thursday, T.J. Krukrubo, SAN, appeared on behalf of both Anjarwalla and Gambaryan.
Krukrubo informed the court that despite serving the respondents two days prior, they were not represented in court.
However, he directed the court’s attention to their notice of withdrawal of legal representation for Anjarwalla, filed on March 26.
Although Krukrubo did not elaborate on the reasons for the withdrawal, it is likely linked to the applicant’s disappearance while in custody.
Justice Ekwo noted that with the withdrawal of legal representation, “it means that the applicant has no legal representation and necessitates adjournment for the applicant to seek legal representation and for the respondents to have an opportunity to appear in court.”
The judge adjourned the proceedings until April 8 for further mention. Additionally, during the resumed hearing in Gambaryan’s case, Krukrubo mentioned that although the processes had been served on ONSA and EFCC, they still had time to respond.
He requested an adjourned date, stating that the respondent’s deadline to file their applications would expire the following Thursday.
As a result, Justice Ekwo postponed the proceedings until April 8 for further discussion.
