Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja ordered a bench (arrest) warrant on a medical doctor at the health facility of Kuje Correctional Centre identified as Abraham Ehizojie for failing to produce the medical report of Binance executive, Tygran Gambaryan or show up in court.
According to Nairametrics, the Nigerian government had accused Binance and its executives, Tygran Gambaryan and the fleeing Nadeem Anjarwalla, of allegedly conspiring amongst themselves to conceal the origin of the financial proceeds of their alleged unlawful activities in Nigeria, including $35,400, 000.
The Nigerian authorities said they committed an offence contravening Section 21 (a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
It must be recalled that Justice Nwite had ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service doctor to produce the medical reports of the Tigran Gambaryan, warning the correctional service against non-compliance to the court’s directives.
He added that the medical practitioner at the prison service will have to appear in court if the medical report is not produced.
At the proceedings on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi said in open court that the judge’s order had not been complied with.
The judge then asked a prison official who brought the Binance executive to court about the development.
The prison official said he got the court order and delivered the order to the doctor last week Tuesday, adding “He is not here and I expected him to be here.”
The EFCC counsel, Ekene Iheanacho told the judge that he thought that the medical officer will be in court today.
Mordi then said the court should issue a bench warrant against the medical officer of the prison service and that his client be remanded in a hospital immediately so that he can be diagnosed to see what his true state of health is.
“My client came in here in a wheelchair. He has been complaining of back p+in.
We need to be careful of the life in our hands,” Mordi said. heanacho responded that he does not dispute the fact that the defendant should be given adequate treatment but he has issues with being remanded in hospital custody.
After hearing from the lawyers, Nwite said it is unfortunate that a government institutions will be treating his orders with levity.
“I hereby make an order of bench warrant on the medical doctor at the Kuje Correctional Service, Abraham to appear before this court,” he said.
He also ordered that Gambaryan be taken to the Nizamiye hospital for a medical checkup for 24 hours, at any time of his choice but under full security.
The case was then adjourned to 11 October 2024 for continuation of trial.
