Source: The Block
The Nigerian government demands Binance to pay $81 billion in unpaid taxes, claiming the exchange operated without proper registration.
The Federal High Court in Abuja postponed a tax evasion trial involving Binance, originally scheduled for April 30. This decision was made after one of Binance's lawyers questioned a February order that allowed authorities to serve legal documents via email.
Reports indicate that the court approved the prosecution and local tax authorities to send case documents via the internet. Binance lawyer Chukwuka Ikwuazom claimed the order was "improper and should be revoked," arguing that authorities must obtain formal permission to serve official documents abroad.
Monday's hearing is the latest development in a crackdown on cryptocurrency service providers and an ongoing investigation into Binance. The Nigerian government accuses the crypto exchange of tax evasion and exacerbating national economic losses through illegal operations. Two executives from Binance—Nadeem Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan—were arrested while negotiating. This led to a months-long incident involving an escape of a detainee, reports of human rights violations, and lobbying from high-level U.S. policymakers.
Anjarwalla has escaped Nigeria and remains wanted by authorities. Gambaryan, a former IRS agent, was released last October after being held for nine months in Kuje prison, a maximum-security facility built for high-risk suspects related to serious crimes. Gambaryan's release was granted after his health deteriorated, apparently linked to his prolonged detention. The Nigerian government denied allegations of hush money but dropped money laundering and tax evasion charges against this American citizen.
The Nigerian government is seeking an $81 billion fine against the cryptocurrency exchange, with authorities stating that Binance owes $79 billion in compensation and $2 billion in unpaid taxes.
