The Binance Nigerian money laundering trial against the crypto exchange and its two executives, Nadeem Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan, has been postponed to May 17, Thursday media reports confirm.
According to Reuters, a lawyer for Binance requested the delay during a court appearance Thursday, claiming he had yet to receive necessary proof of evidence related to the case.
Binance’s attorney was then allegedly served with the 300-page document in court and allowed to review its contents.
Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were originally detained in late February and later charged with money laundering and tax evasion. Anjarwalla fled shortly after, however, only to be recaptured nearly 3,000 miles away in Kenya just over a week ago.
Anjarwalla, a dual citizen of Britain and Kenya, served as the crypto exchange’s regional manager in Africa, while Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, was the company’s head of financial compliance.
According to a GoFundMe by Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, the now detained Binance executive was invited to Nigeria by the country’s government for a series of policy meetings.
Please sign this petition and share it widely to #BringTigranHome!https://t.co/9rploFqdtK
— Binance (@binance) April 4, 2024
Nigeria’s government is reportedly angered by capital outflows caused by the crypto exchange, which have increased the African nation’s financial troubles.
Binance, which is also facing charges in the matter, previously stated that it was working alongside Nigerian officials to ensure the safe return of its employees.
The trial’s pushback marks the latest twist in Binance’s legal saga, coming just one day after the Nigerian Central Bureau (NCB) of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) for Africa