Absence Of Judge Delays Ruling On Bail Application Of Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan
The absence of Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has delayed the ruling on a fresh bail application filed by Tigran Gambaryan, a detained executive of Binance Holdings Limited. The ruling, which was scheduled for Wednesday, could not proceed as Justice Nwite was attending a seminar at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja. The court has now rescheduled the ruling for October 11.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, had previously opposed the bail application during a hearing on September 4. Representing Gambaryan, Mark Mordi had requested bail on health grounds. However, Iheanacho argued that the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) had been providing Gambaryan with top medical care, alleging that Gambaryan once refused treatment from the State House Clinic in Abuja.
Iheanacho referenced medical reports from the State House Clinic, claiming Gambaryan’s health condition was not as critical as portrayed and that the Binance executive had expressed dissatisfaction with the medical attention offered. He also informed the court that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, had requested Gambaryan’s medical records from the NCoS, which included reports from Nizamiye Hospital and others. The EFCC maintained that Gambaryan had been receiving sufficient medical care and that NCoS could take him to any hospital in Nigeria.
Mordi, on the other hand, urged the court to grant Gambaryan bail either on liberal terms or for six weeks due to his health condition. He argued that the medical reports submitted as exhibits showed that Gambaryan required medical attention that could not be adequately provided in Nigeria.
The EFCC requested that the court dismiss the fresh bail application, while the defense continued to argue for bail based on Gambaryan’s health needs.
