Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, sits as he waits to face prosecution for tax evasion and money laundering at the federal high court in Abuja, Nigeria April 4, 2024. REUTERS/ Abraham Achirga/ File Photo
ABUJA (Reuters) - A Nigerian court on Thursday adjourned a money laundering trial against cryptocurrency exchange Binance and two of its executives to May 17 after a lawyer for the exchange said he had not been served with documents needed to prepare for the case.
Binance and its executives Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and head of financial crime compliance, and British-Kenyan Nadeem Anjarwalla, a regional manager for Africa, have been charged with laundering more than $35 million and engaging in specialised financial activities without a licence.
They have all pleaded not guilty.
On Thursday, Binance's lawyer complained in court that he had not been served with the additional proof of evidence that he would have used to prepare for the case and commence trial.
He was subsequently served in court and the judge adjourned to allow him to scrutinise the more than 300-page document ahead of May 17.
In addition to the money laundering case by Nigeria's anti-graft agency the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Binance and its executives also face four counts to tax evasion in a separate trial that will resume on May 17.
(Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; editing by Jason Neely)
