Binance: Court orders arrest of Kuje Prison doctor
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the arrest of Dr. Abraham Ehizojie, the medical doctor at Kuje Correctional Centre, for allegedly not submitting the medical report of Tigran Gambaryan, a detained executive from Binance Holdings Ltd.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order in response to a request from Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, SAN. Gambaryan, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, faces money laundering charges alongside the cryptocurrency firm, as brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On July 5, Justice Nwite had instructed the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to provide Gambaryan’s medical certificate by July 16. Mordi later sought the court’s intervention to summon Dr. Ehizojie to account for his alleged failure to deliver the medical report despite the court’s directive. Gambaryan had previously collapsed in court on May 23 due to health issues, prompting concerns about his deteriorating condition at Kuje Correctional Centre.
During the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mordi reported that the order had not been complied with. A prison official confirmed that the court order was served to Dr. Ehizojie on July 9, but the doctor did not appear in court.
EFCC counsel Ekene Iheanacho expressed surprise at the absence of the doctor. Mordi then requested the court to issue a bench warrant for Dr. Ehizojie and to place Gambaryan under hospital remand to ensure a comprehensive medical evaluation.
“My client came in here on a wheelchair. He has been complaining of back pain. We need to be careful of the life in our hands,” Mordi said.
Justice Nwite criticized the government’s treatment of the court order and issued a bench warrant for Dr. Ehizojie to appear before the court. He also ordered that Gambaryan be taken to Nizamiye Hospital for 24 hours of medical care under full security surveillance.
The judge adjourned the matter until October 11 and 18 for the continuation of the trial. Earlier in the session, Dr. Olubukola Akinwunmi, Head of Payment Policy and Regulation Division at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), gave evidence and was cross-examined by Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, counsel for Binance.
