Cryptocurrency trading firm Binance says the company is working with the Nigerian government to facilitate the release of Tigran Gambaryan, the Head of the crypto exchange’s financial crime compliance unit.
Gambaryan is currently in Kuje Correctional Centre pending a ruling on his bail application following alleged charges of complicity in money laundering filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Federal Government had also filed a five-count charge against Binance, two executives including Gambaryan and fleeing Nadeem Anjarwalla.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024, the Federal Government accused Binance of facilitated customer tax evasion, including non-payment of Value Added Tax (VAT); failure to file tax returns, non-payment of Company Income Tax (CIT) evasion and complicity in aiding customers to evade taxes through its platform among others.
Speaking with journalists at the Token2049 Crypto Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), CEO of Binance, Richard Teng, hinted at collaborative efforts between Binance and the Nigerian government to resolve the issue.
“What I can say is we are working very closely with the Nigerian authorities to try to resolve the matter. This was a one-off. It’s never happened to us before.”
