From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Abuja division of the Federal High Court on Monday remanded a top official of Binance Holdings Limited, Tigram Gambaryan, in Kuje prison.
Gambaryan was remanded in prison custody by Justice Emeka Nwite till April 18, when his bail application will be determined.
The defendant had earlier entered a plea of not guilty to the money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Federal Government had arrested and detained Gambaryan and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, over the alleged involvement of their firm, Binance Holdings Limited, in money laundering and terrorism financing.
But Anjarwalla, who is the Africa Regional Manager of Binance, escaped from custody and fled the country, with the government initiating the process to arrest and extradite him back for trial.
Regardless, both the EFCC and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, filed separate criminal charges against the duo and the company.
While the EFCC is prosecuting the defendants over their alleged complicity in money laundering, the FIRS accused them of engaging in tax evasion fraud.
Meanwhile, the court has fixed May 2 for the commencement of a hearing on the substantive charge against him.