The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Tigran Gambaryan alongside Binance Holdings Limited on a five-count charge bordering on alleged tax evasion, currency speculation and money laundering to the tune of $34,400,000 (Thirty-Four Million, Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).
At the resumed sitting on Thursday, defence counsel, Mark Mordi SAN, informed the court of the ill-health of the Binance executive and his inability to stand trial.
“In the circumstance of the ill health of the second defendant, it is clear that he cannot stand for trial today, we beseech for the matter to be adjourned till 14 and 17 of July, 2024 to permit him to recover.
“Furthermore, we beseech for the defendant to be transferred to Mizamiye hospital Abuja for treatment, and for the court to mandate the Nigerian Correctional Service to issue us a medical report on the examination they conducted on him in their facility,” he said of the Binance executive.
Responding, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho said that the matter of the day was for continuation of trial and two of his witnesses were already in court.
On the request of the defendant to be transferred to Mizamiye hospital for treatment, Iheanacho did not oppose, but urged the court to decide on a medical facility that would ensure the safety and security of the defendant.
“My Lord, we will not be opposing the application, and equally not be opposing the defendant the opportunity to be properly treated. But in respect of the defendant making a particular request of a particular hospital is worrisome, but if the court would suggest any other hospital that will ensure the security of the defendant, we don’t have a problem with that,” he said.
After listening to the counsels, Justice Nwite granted the defendant to be taken to Mizamiye hospital or any other hospital the Nigerian Correctional Service deems fit, as long as the security of the defendant is assured.
He further ordered the Correctional Service to issue a medical report of the second defendant to the prosecution and the defence, and adjourned the matter till June 20 and 21for continuation of trial.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
