Still on the case of the sick detained Binance exceutive, Tigran Gambaryan, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered that the detainee be provided with a wheelchair.
This decision followed Gambaryan’s outburst regarding his deteriorating health after the court adjourned.
Gambaryan, who has been using crutches, complained to Justice Nwite that his condition had exacerbated since his remand at Kuje correctional facility due to inadequate medical care.
He revealed that his herniated disc condition, which he has suffered from for 12 years, had been exacerbated by the lack of proper medical attention.
Justice Nwite questioned a prison official about the denial of a wheelchair and subsequently ordered its provision. Gambaryan was then wheeled out of the courtroom.
Earlier, Gambaryan’s counsel, Mark Mordi (SAN), informed the court that his client’s health was deteriorating due to prison officials’ negligence and that a wheelchair was needed to alleviate his pain. Mordi also mentioned that a new bail application had been filed due to Gambaryan’s worsening condition.
Prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho countered the bail application, arguing that Gambaryan’s illness was not as severe as claimed, citing health records from the Office of the National Security Adviser. Iheanacho expressed confusion as to why these records were not presented to the court earlier.
Additionally, counsel for the first defendant, Tonye Krukrubo (SAN), raised concerns about incomplete documents from the Central Bank of Nigeria, which were necessary for the trial. The prosecution counsel provided some documents but admitted they were incomplete. An adjournment was requested to address this issue.
Justice Nwite, newly informed of the fresh bail application, deferred addressing it and adjourned the case to September 4 for the continuation of the trial.
Gambaryan, along with Binance and its regional manager for Africa, Nadeem Anjarwalla, faces money laundering charges of $35 million brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Anjarwalla, who was initially detained by the Office of the National Security Adviser, escaped custody on March 22, 2024. However, Gambaryan was subsequently transferred from ONSA to EFCC custody and then to Kuje correctional facility.
