Binance Executive Case: Court Issues Bench Warrant Against Kuje Prison Medical Doctor

On Tuesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr. Abraham Ehizojie, the medical doctor at Kuje Correctional Centre, for allegedly refusing to produce the medical report of Tigran Gambaryan, a detained executive of Binance Holdings Ltd.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order following an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, SAN. Gambaryan, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, is facing a money laundering charge along with the cryptocurrency firm, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On July 5, Justice Nwite had ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to release Gambaryan’s medical certificate by July 16. Mordi had requested the court to summon Ehizojie to explain his alleged refusal to comply with this order. Gambaryan had collapsed in court on May 23 due to ill health, and concerns about his deteriorating condition were raised by the defense law firm, Aluko & Oyebode, on May 27.

During the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mordi informed the court that the judge’s order had not been complied with. A prison official confirmed that the court order was delivered to the doctor on July 9. However, the doctor was not present in court. The EFCC counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, also expected the medical officer to be present.

Mordi then requested the court to issue a bench warrant against the medical officer to ensure his appearance and asked for Gambaryan to be given immediate hospital remand for thorough medical examination. He highlighted Gambaryan’s complaints of back pain and the need for careful handling of his health.

While Iheanacho agreed that the defendant should receive adequate treatment, he opposed the request for hospital remand. Justice Nwite expressed disappointment at the disregard for the court order and issued a bench warrant for Dr. Ehizojie’s appearance. He also ordered that Gambaryan be taken to Nizamiye Hospital for 24-hour medical care under full security surveillance.

The case was adjourned until October 11 and October 18 for the continuation of the trial. Earlier, Dr. Olubukola Akinwunmi, Head of the Payment Policy and Regulation Division at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), testified and was cross-examined by Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, counsel for Binance.