Unlawful detention: Court dismisses ex-Binance representative’s suit against NSA, EFCC

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit by a former executive of Binance against the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Tigran Gambaryan, who was the former Binance Head of Financial Crime Compliance in Nigeria, filed the suit against the National Security Adviser […]

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit by a former executive of Binance against the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Tigran Gambaryan, who was the former Binance Head of Financial Crime Compliance in Nigeria, filed the suit against the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging unlawful and prolonged detention.

Delivering the judgement on Thursday, Justice Mohammed Umar held that Gambaryan’s fundamental rights enforcement suit constituted an abuse of court process.

Justice Umar held that the NSA had acted within his mandate under the law and that no court had the power to stop the investigative powers of the police or EFCC.

The judge ruled further that Gambaryan failed to provide evidence to show that he enjoyed immunity from prosecution in Nigeria or under Nigerian law.

Gambaryan, alongside his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were detained by the NSA over money laundering and foreign exchange contravention allegations against Binance Holdings Ltd.

However, Anjarwalla escaped from lawful custody and fled the country in 2024.  

But Gambaryan, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/356/2024 and filed by his lawyer, Tonye Krukrubo (SAN) sought an order of court compelling the NSA and EFCC to apologise for his client’s detention in the country.