A federal high court in Abuja has summoned Olayemi Cardoso,
governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to appear before it regarding
the money laundering case brought against Binance Holdings Limited and its
executives.
Cardoso is to appear before the court with specific
documents on September 2.
Although Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, had previously
adjourned the matter to October 11, the defence counsel had approached the
court to reschedule.
In April, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) arraigned Binance, a cryptocurrency firm, and Tigran Gambaryan, over
allegations bordering on money laundering.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is also
prosecuting Binance for tax evasion.
In the document titled “Subpoena Duces Tecum,” with charge
number: FHC/ABCR/138/2024, the court asked the CBN governor to appear before it
or delegate someone.
“You or any other officer you may delegate are commanded in
the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to attend before
the federal high court, Abuja judicial division, presided over by the
honourable justice E. Nwite, on the 2nd day of September 2024 at 9 o’clock in
the forenoon, and from day to day until the above cause is tried, to bring with
you and produce at the time and place mentioned the following documents,” the
subpoena read.
“Certified True Copy
of the excel spreadsheet captioned ‘Export Exchange Rate Results’ published on
the Central Bank of Nigeria’s website for the period from 1 June 2024 to 16
August 2024.”
The court also summoned CBN’s head of legal services
department.
On August 27, Richard Teng, chief executive officer (CEO) of
Binance, called for the release of Gambaryan, saying that the federal
government is using “baseless allegations: to hold him in custody.
Binance said the federal government claims to be holding
Gambaryan because the company is operating virtually.
The cryptocurrency exchange said it looks forward to working
with the government once the issues have been resolved.
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