KEY POINTS
During the court session, the presiding judge was notified by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that Gambaryan’s legal counsel had filed a supplementary affidavit for his bail request on April 16.
E. Iheanacho, the EFCC’s senior counsel, highlighted the new concerns presented by the defense, emphasizing the necessity for more time to prepare a thorough response in the pursuit of justice.
Justice Emeka Nwite Approves Bail Hearing Postponement
After the bail hearing was postponed, Mark Mordi, representing Gambaryan, emphasized that his client had been in federal custody for more than two weeks. He expressed disappointment with the prosecution’s lack of response to the additional affidavit submitted with the bail application.
Upon taking a not-guilty plea to the money laundering accusations filed by the EFCC, Gambaryan was detained. He, alongside Nadeem Anjarwalla, faces allegations of concealing $35.4 million in earnings within Nigeria, allegedly stemming from unlawful activities.
Gambaryan Cited Violation of Fundamental Rights in a Counter-lawsuit
In a legal action filed in response, Gambaryan asserts that the government has infringed upon his basic human rights by detaining him and seizing his passport. He contends that these actions violate Nigeria’s constitution, which guarantees every individual’s right to personal freedom.
Their arrest followed the federal government’s prohibition of cryptocurrency channels, a move aimed at controlling currency speculation. Despite this, Anjarwalla managed to evade detention by using a falsified passport. The ongoing legal proceedings and the international attention they have garnered underscore the complex interplay between cryptocurrency operations and national regulatory frameworks.
