Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has 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. The order followed an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, Gambaryan, who was brought to the court in a wheelchair, is facing money laundering charges along with the cryptocurrency firm, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On July 5, Justice Nwite ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to release Gambaryan’s medical certificate by July 16. This order came after Mordi requested the court to summon Dr. Ehizojie to explain why he had not provided the medical report despite the court’s directive. Gambaryan had collapsed in court on May 23 due to alleged ill health.
During the hearing, Mordi informed the court that the judge's order had not been complied with. A prison official confirmed that he had delivered the court order to Dr. Ehizojie on July 9, 2024. EFCC counsel Ekene Iheanacho mentioned that he expected the medical officer to be present in court.
Mordi then requested a bench warrant against the medical officer and asked for Gambaryan to be given hospital remand for a thorough medical examination. Iheanacho, while agreeing that Gambaryan should receive adequate treatment, opposed the hospital remand.
Justice Nwite expressed disappointment at the government's lack of compliance with the court order. He issued a bench warrant for Dr. Ehizojie and ordered that Gambaryan be taken to Nizamiye Hospital for medical care under full security surveillance.
The case was adjourned to October 11 and October 18 for the continuation of the trial. Earlier in the session, 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, representing Binance, the first defendant.
