NEWISSUES
By Kachi Ekile
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso has been summoned by a Federal High Court in Abuja in the money laundering case brought against Binance Holdings Limited and its executives.
Cardoso is to appear before the apex court with specific documents on Monday, September 2, the new date fixed for the continuation of the trial.
The case had been adjourned at the previous court sitting by Justice Emeka Nwite and the defence counsel had requested a change of date, which was granted by the court.
Tigan Gambaryan, Binance USA’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, the exchange’s British-Kenyan regional manager for Africa, are facing money laundering charges to the tune of $35m brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Both were initially detained in the custody of the Office of the National Security Adviser but Anjarwalla reportedly escaped custody on March 22, 2024.
Gambaryan was subsequently moved from ONSA to EFCC custody and afterwards to Kuje Correctional Facility, where he is currently being held.
The document summoning CBN Governor Cardoso with charge number: FHC/ABCR/138/2024 reads: “The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way, Central Business District, Abuja – FCT.
“You or any other officer you may delegate are commanded in the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to attend before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, presided over by the Honourable Justice E. Nwite, on the 2nd day of September 2024 at 9 o’clock in the forenoon, and from day to day until the above cause is tried, to bring with you and produce at the time and place mentioned the following documents.
“Certified True Copy of the Excel spreadsheet captioned ‘Export Exchange Rate Results’ published on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s website for the period from 1 June 2024 to 16 August 2024.”
In a separate document but with similar wording, the court summons, “The Head, Legal Services Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, Plot 33, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Way, Central Business District, Abuja – FCT.
“You or any other officer you may delegate are commanded in the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to attend before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, presided over by the Honourable Justice E. Nwite, on the 2nd day of September 2024 at the hour of 9 o’clock in the forenoon, and from day to day until the above cause is tried, to bring with you and produce at the time and place mentioned the following documents.”
