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Nigerian official advocates blockchain, AI against illicit financial flows

The financial watchdog chair said that if recovered, the funds could significantly enhance infrastructure, healthcare and education across the continent.

The chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olanipekun Olukoyede, has highlighted blockchain technology and artificial intelligence (AI) as tools to address illicit financial flows (IFFs) in Africa. 

According to local media, Olukoyede highlighted the $88.6 billion lost annually in African countries due to IFFs at the Pan-African Conference on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation.

The conference is the premier annual forum of the African Union. It brings together stakeholders across Africa to discuss IFFs and taxation. This conference facilitates sharing insights, strategies and best practices to address the challenge of IFFs.

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Nigeria rejects claims of poor prison conditions, health for Binance exec

Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s minister of information and national orientation, emphasized that Gambaryan enjoys full consular support from his home government.

The Nigerian government has denied claims that Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan is in poor prison conditions. A government minister argued that he receives quality medical care and complete consular services, and he emphasized a commitment to lawful trial and judicial integrity.

In a June 21 statement, Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s minister of information and national orientation, addressed the claims made about poor prison conditions and Gambaryan’s health.

Idris’ statement comes on the heels of a recent post by two United States Members of Congress, Representative French Hill and Representative Chrissy Houlahan, who visited Gambaryan at the Kuje Detention facility on June 19, 2024. The pair posted a video of the visit on X, calling for his release.

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Binance exec legal battle escalates amid US-Nigeria tug of war

In a statement to the press, Gambaryan’s wife expressed her confusion about why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will not release her husband after a court cleared him of tax evasion charges.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pressed ahead with its money laundering case against Binance and its executive, Tigran Gambaryan, on Thursday, June 20, prompting a response from his wife, Yuki Gambaryan.

According to local media, the EFCC’s lead counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, appeared during the proceedings, allowing the cross-examination of the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission Director, Abdulkadir Abbas, to proceed.

This development comes just days after a court cleared Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla — who had fled Nigeria — of tax evasion charges related to Binance in a case brought by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Friday, June 14.

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Binance exec denied bail in Nigeria money laundering trial

Head prosecutor Ekele Iheanacho objected to bail by highlighting Gambaryan’s questionable attempt to get a new passport, allegedly due to a stolen previous one.

Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive detained in Nigeria since February, has reportedly been denied bail by a Nigerian court in a money laundering trial.

According to a local media report, Judge Emeka Nwite denied the bail application, stating that he believed Gambaryan posed a flight risk and would likely flee if released on bail.

Gambaryan, Binance Holdings and another senior executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla — who is currently at large — face charges from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) related to money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

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