Court adjourns Binance executives' tax evasion trial to June 14

A Nigerian court has postponed the tax evasion case against Binance and two of its executives to June 14 for potential arraignment, after proceedings stalled on Wednesday. The delay occurred because authorities failed to present Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and Binance's head of financial crime compliance, in court. No explanation was provided for his absence.

Last Friday, an Abuja court ruled that Gambaryan could face trial in the tax evasion case on behalf of Binance. In May, Binance CEO Richard Teng criticized Nigeria for setting a dangerous precedent after the company’s executives were invited to the country and subsequently detained as part of a crackdown on cryptocurrency. Binance is contesting the charges of tax evasion and money laundering.

Gambaryan, along with Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan and Binance's regional manager for Africa, faces four counts of tax evasion, including failing to register with Nigeria's Federal Inland Revenue Service for tax purposes. Anjarwalla escaped custody in March but remains listed in the case, which complicates the trial since Nigerian law requires all parties to be served before proceedings can continue, according to Gambaryan's lawyer Chukwuka Ikwuazom.

Moses Ideho, the lawyer for the revenue service, indicated that Nigeria's prison service was responsible for producing Gambaryan in court and that he was unaware of the reason for his absence.

Judge Emeka Nwite has adjourned the potential arraignment of Binance and Gambaryan to June 14. Besides the tax evasion case, Binance and its executives are also charged with laundering over $35 million by Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This money laundering trial is scheduled for Thursday.

Binance has stated that it is cooperating closely with Nigerian authorities following Gambaryan's detention.