A Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the Medical Doctor at the health facility of Kuje Correctional Centre, Dr Abraham Ehizojie.

The warrant was issued over alleged refusal to produce the medical report of Tigran Gambaryan, the detained executive of Binance Holdings Ltd.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order following an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, SAN.

Mr Gambaryan was whisked into Court 9 of the high-rise building in a wheelchair earlier in the morning.

Mr Gambaryan, alongside the cryptocurrency firm, is facing a money laundering charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Justice Nwite on July 5 ordered the management of the Nigerian Correctional Service to release the medical certificate of Gambaryan on or before July 16 (today).

The judge gave the order following an application by Mordi.

Mr Mordi had prayed the court to summon Mr Ehizojie to explain why he had allegedly refused to make available his client’s medical report despite an earlier court order.

Mr Gambaryan on May 23 collapsed in open court over alleged ill-health.

The defence law firm, Aluko & Oyebode, had also, on May 27, raised alarms that the cryptocurrency firm’s executive might die in Kuje Correctional Centre over his alleged deteriorating health.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mr Mordi said in open court that the judge’s order had not been complied with.

The judge then asked a prison official who brought Gambaryan to court about the development.

The prison official said he got the court order and delivered the order to the doctor on July 9 (Tuesday).

“He is not here and I expected him to be here,” he added.

The EFCC counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, told the judge that he thought that the medical officer would be in court today.

Mr Mordi then prayed the court to issue a bench warrant against the medical officer of the correctional centre to be produced in court on the next adjourned date.

The lawyer also asked the court to make an order for his client to be given hospital remand immediately so that a thorough medical examination could be carried on him to know his true state of health.

“My client came here in a wheelchair.  He has been complaining of back pain.

“We need to be careful of the life in our hands,” Mordi said.

Iheanacho, who did not dispute the fact that the defendant should be given adequate treatment, disagreed that Gambaryan should be placed in hospital remand.

After listening to counsel’s submissions, Nwite said it was unfortunate that a government institution would be treating a court order with levity.

“I hereby make an order of bench warrant on the medical doctor at the Kuje Correctional Service, to appear before this court,” he said.

He also ordered that Mr Gambaryan be taken to the Nizamiye Hospital for medicare for 24 hours, at any time of his choice but under full security surveillance.

The judge adjourned the matter until October 11 and October 18 for continuation of trial.

Earlier, Head, Payment Policy and Regulation Division at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Olubukola Akinwunmi, gave evidence and was cross-examined by Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, counsel for Binance, the 1st defendant in the criminal charge.

(NAN)