The tax evasion trial of global cryptocurrency platform Binance Holdings Limited has been postponed in Nigeria, after the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, was absent on Wednesday for official duties.
The case, brought by Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), had been set to continue with the cross-examination of the prosecution’s third witness. Proceedings have now been rescheduled for 14 October.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Binance was re-arraigned on 12 July 2024 on a four-count tax evasion charge. Nigerian representative Ayodele Omotilewa appeared in court and entered a plea of not guilty on the company’s behalf.
The re-arraignment took place after Justice Nwite earlier discharged Binance executives Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla from the case. The court’s ruling followed a request from FIRS counsel, Moses Ideho, who submitted a fresh amended charge listing Binance alone as the defendant. The amended charge had been dated 13 June and filed a day later.
Binance is simultaneously facing separate legal action from Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which has accused the firm of laundering approximately $35.4 million.
The tax case reflects broader tensions between Nigerian authorities and cryptocurrency platforms over regulatory compliance and financial transparency.
