Author: Derek Andersen, CoinTelegraph; Translated by: Deng Tong, Golden Finance

According to local media reports, the Nigerian High Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Binance country manager Nadeem Anjarwalla, who accused Nigerian government agencies of violating his fundamental rights when they detained him and seized his passport.

On June 19, Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled to dismiss Anjarwalla’s case against the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for “lack of serious prosecution.” Neither Anjarwalla nor the defendants’ legal representatives appeared in court.

Binance executives defend their rights

Anjarwalla filed the lawsuit on March 28, seeking to have the institutions’ actions declared illegal. Tonye Krukrubo, a lawyer for Binance, filed the lawsuit while asking to withdraw from the case.

Krukrubo made the request so Anjarwalla could hire alternative representation, according to Nigerian financial publication Nairametrics. Anjarwalla was not in court at the time because he had escaped from prison and fled to Kenya. The court suspended the proceedings until June 19, during which time Anjarwalla should hire new representation.

Anjarwalla maintains in his lawsuit that the government agency violated Section 35(1) and (4) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended). He states in the lawsuit:

“The defendant’s continued detention of the applicant has caused significant hardship and mental distress to the applicant, his wife, children and other family members.”

The lawsuit is part of a larger conflict

Anjarwalla and Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, Tigran Gambaryan, were detained on Feb. 26. Gambaryan traveled to the country from the United States to participate in the company’s defense against tax evasion and money laundering charges.

The case against Binance has been a source of tension between the United States and Nigeria.

Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, filed separate lawsuits against the NSA and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the same grounds. Gambaryan’s complaint is scheduled to be heard on July 9. Krukrubo still represents Gambaryan.

Anjarwalla, a dual British-Kenyan citizen, remains in Kenya as Nigeria works to extradite him.

Source: Naija News