The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the money laundering case involving Binance and its officials until April 8.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, decided to adjourn the matter for ruling after hearing submissions from both parties regarding the service of the charge on Binance Holdings Limited.
The defendants, Binance Holdings Limited and Tigran Gambaryan, were scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.
However, the proceedings were halted due to an objection raised by Mark Mordi, (SAN), the counsel for the second defendant.
Mordi argued that his client could not be arraigned because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had not properly served Binance Holdings Limited.
He emphasized that his client was neither an agent, director, nor representative of the company in the country, and therefore could not accept service on behalf of the first defendant.
In response, the EFCC’s counsel, E.E. Iheanacho, disagreed with Mordi’s stance. He asserted that the second respondent served as a representative of the first defendant in the country, and thus was eligible to receive the charge on behalf of the company. However, Mordi rejected this argument.
Iheanacho further stated that it was not within the purview of the counsel for the second defendant to argue on behalf of the first defendant. He urged the court to enter a plea of not guilty for the first defendant and proceed with the proceedings.
Details later…
