Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive, sued Nuhu Ribadu, the NSA, and the EFCC.

Gambaryan sued Ribadu and EFCC for fundamental rights violations.

The Binance executive requested five reliefs from Justice Inyang Ekwo in his March 18 originating motion filed by his counsel, Olujoke Aliyu of Aluko and Oyebode Law Firm.

After escaping jail on March 22, Binance Africa regional manager Nadeem Anjarwalla filed a separate right enforcement petition before Justice Ekwo.

Gambaryan and Anjarwalla sued ONSA and EFCC as 1st and 2nd respondents in FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 and FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24, according to NAN.

The same relief was sought.

Gambaryan, an American citizen monitoring financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform, sought a declaration that his detention and seizure of his foreign travel passport violated Section 35 (1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended).

He alleged the act violated his Constitutional right to personal liberty.

He also requested that the responses free him and return his international travel passport immediately.

Gambaryan also sought a perpetual injunction barring respondents and agents from arresting him over Binance investigations or demands.

He also requested full indemnity for the costs of ordering the responders to publicly apologise to him.

In a statement supporting the suit, he said he and Binance representative Nadeem Anjarwalla visited Nigeria on February 26 to honour the ONSA and EFCC’s invitation to examine Binance concerns.

He stated he and his colleague, Anjarwalla, attended the meeting, arguing for his application on 11 grounds.

His statement said the respondents detained the two following the meeting and had kept them there.

He denied committing any offence at the meeting and was not told in writing of any other offence in Nigeria.

“The only reason for his detention is because the government is requesting information from Binance and making demands on the company,” he claimed, adding that he was not on Binance’s board.

T.J. Krukrubo, SAN, represented Anjarwalla and Gambaryan in the Thursday suits.

Krukrubo told the court that the respondents were served two days earlier but not represented.

The senior lawyer alerted the court to their March 26 notice of withdrawal of legal representation for Anjarwalla.

Krukrubo could not explain why they were abandoning their legal representation, but it may be related to the applicant’s absence.

After withdrawing their legal representation, Justice Ekwo remarked, “it means that the applicant has no legal representation and requires that the matter be adjourned for the applicant to seek legal representation and for the respond allowed to come to court.”

The judge postponed the case until April 8. Krukrubo stated ONSA and EFCC had time to respond after the processes were served on them during Gambaryan’s suit’s resumed hearing.

The respondent’s time to file petitions expired next Thursday, so he requested an adjournment.

Thus, Justice Ekwo postponed the case to April 8.