FIRS Battle Prison Authorities
According to local media, Tigran Gambaryan failed to appear in court on May 22 to face tax evasion allegations brought by the FIRS. During the court session, prosecution attorney Moses Idehu voiced confusion about Gambaryan’s absence, citing unsuccessful attempts to reach penitentiary officials.
Idehu asked for a brief stop in proceedings to discuss the problem. However, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja postponed Gambaryan’s arraignment until June 14. Binance’s lawyer, T.J. Krukrubo, SAN, objected to the prosecution’s omission to bring Gambaryan to court.
Meanwhile, Chukwuka Ikwuazo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), defending Gambaryan, requested that the judge direct FIRS to delete Nadeem Anjarwalla’s name from the amended charges, as he has been deemed “at large.” The FIRS lawyer agreed to take the required steps to remove Anjarwalla’s name from the charge sheet.
FIRS Log Heads with Binance Over Tax Issues
Gambaryan was sent to Abuja’s Kuje Correctional Centre in April 2024 after pleading not guilty to money laundering allegations filed by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission. His bail application was denied, and he is still in jail. The charges include hiding the source of Binance’s $35.4 million revenue in Nigeria.
In March 2024, the FIRS charged Binance and its executives, including Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, with tax evasion. These charges include failing to register with the FIRS, paying corporate income tax, paying value-added tax, and assisting tax evasion.
The Nigerian government accused the cryptocurrency exchange of actively manipulating foreign exchange rates, prompting tighter regulation of crypto trading platforms.
On February 28, Nigerian officials seized Anjarwalla, a 37-year-old British Kenyan who works as Binance’s regional manager for Africa, and Gambaryan, a 40-year-old American who leads Binance’s financial crime compliance team.