Tax charges against the executives of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, have been dropped by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) of Nigeria, as reported by Coindesk. This information was disclosed by a family spokesperson in a statement released on June 14.
The FIRS has agreed to reassess the charges, resulting in only Binance, represented by its local representative, being named as the defendant. This means that Gambaryan, who is currently unwell, will not have to appear in court, as the exchange is now the sole party in the case. However, both Gambaryan and Anjarwalla remain implicated in a money laundering investigation.
The upcoming hearing for the money laundering case is scheduled for June 19, where the request for the application of fundamental rights will be considered. The trial is expected to resume the following day.
Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, who is the regional manager of Binance in Africa, were detained upon their arrival in Abuja on February 26. Anjarwalla managed to escape custody on March 22.
In a separate development, US lawmakers have written a letter to President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, urging them to take immediate action to rescue Tigran Gambaryan. The lawmakers are calling for his case to be treated as a hostage situation due to concerns about his health and well-being.
The letter, signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and 15 other members of Congress, emphasizes the need for urgent action to ensure Gambaryan’s safety and well-being. They express fear for his life and stress the importance of acting swiftly.
The Federal Supreme Court of Nigeria denied Gambaryan’s bail request on May 17, citing a potential risk of him fleeing the country.
In conclusion, the article serves as a reminder that investing or trading cryptocurrencies carries financial risks and the opinions expressed are for informational purposes only.