Author: Derek Andersen, CoinTelegraph; Compiler: Deng Tong, Golden Finance
According to local media reports, The Nigerian High Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Binance Regional Manager Nadeem Anjarwalla. Anjarwalla accused Nigerian government agencies of violating his fundamental rights when they detained him and seized his passport.
On June 19, Judge Inyang Ekwo ruled to dismiss Anjarwalla's lawsuit against the Office of the National Security Advisor (NSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for "lack of serious prosecution." Neither Anjarwalla nor the defendants' legal representatives appeared in court.
Binance executives defend their rights
Anjarwalla filed the lawsuit on March 28, seeking to declare the actions of these agencies illegal. Tonye Krukrubo, a lawyer for Binance, requested to withdraw from the case while filing the lawsuit.
Krukrubo made the request so that Anjarwalla could hire alternative representation, according to Nigerian financial publication Nairametrics. Anjarwalla did not appear in court at the time because he had escaped from prison and fled to Kenya. The court suspended the proceedings until June 19, during which time Anjarwalla should hire new representation.
In his lawsuit, Anjarwalla insisted that the government agency had violated Section 35(1) and (4) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended). He said in the lawsuit:
“The defendants’ continued detention of the applicant has caused great hardship and mental distress to the applicant, his wife, children and other family members.”
The lawsuit is part of a larger conflict
Anjarwalla and Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, Tigran Gambaryan, were detained on February 26. Gambaryan traveled to the country from the United States to participate in the company’s defense against tax evasion and money laundering charges.
The case against Binance has been a source of tension between the United States and Nigeria.
Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, filed separate lawsuits against the NSA and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the same grounds. Gambaryan’s complaint is scheduled to go to trial on July 9. Krukrubo still represents Gambaryan.
Anjarwalla holds dual British and Kenyan citizenship. He currently remains in Kenya and Nigeria is working to extradite him. Source: Naija News