US Binance official denies Nigeria money laundering
An executive from cryptocurrency firm Binance has pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges in a Nigerian court.
US citizen Tigran Gambaryan was arrested in February, along with his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan dual national.
Their detention came as Nigeria accused Binance of being behind the country’s economic turmoil.
Two weeks ago Mr Anjarwalla escaped from custody and his whereabouts are unknown.
On Monday, Mr Gambaryan rejected five counts of money laundering filed against him by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
After the hearing, he was transferred to Kuje Correctional Centre, a prison in the capital, Abuja. The facility has in the past held inmates ranging from jihadists to politicians.
Mr Gambaryan and Mr Anjarwalla had previously been detained in an unknown location.