Panic sets in as Binance executive slumps in court during trial

He was also observed to have been resting on the arm of the seat on which he was sitting before his case file was called.

There was panic at a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, as detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, slumped in the open court over alleged ill-health.

This occurred shortly after his case file was called by the court registrar for trial continuation before Justice Emeka Nwite. As soon as the case was called, Gambaryan did not stop forward to the dock from the back row seat where he was seated.

Justice Nwite then asked where the second defendant (Gambaryan) was and one of the lawyers in his defense team, who sat beside him, assisted him to get towards the dock.

As they proceeded slowly towards the dock, Gambaryan fell and the lawyer assisted him to sit in the front row seat. His lawyer, Mark Mordi (SAN), then explained to the court why his client didn’t respond quickly when his case was called.

Mordi said his client had been indisposed and a written application letter had been filed to notify the court of his failing.

“My lord, the case may not certainly proceed today,” he said.

According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), it was observed that throughout the proceedings, Gambaryan could be seen resting on the arm of the seat where he was sitting.

It was also reported by NAN that Justice Nwite had, on May 16, dismissed Gambaryan’s bail apllication on the ground that the EFCC has already established that the defendant would jump bail if granted.

Gambaryan is currently being remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.