Binance vs Nigeria: Court Postpones $81.5 Billion Binance Tax Case Until April 30 - CoinCentral (2025)

TLDR

• Nigerian court postponed Binance tax evasion case until April 30, 2025
• Binance’s lawyer requested invalidation of email service order, claiming improper jurisdiction
• Nigeria seeks $2 billion in back taxes plus $79.5 billion for alleged economic damages
• Nigeria claims Binance has “significant economic presence” requiring corporate income tax payment
• Two Binance executives were previously detained in Nigeria; one escaped custody

A Nigerian court has postponed the tax evasion case against cryptocurrency exchange Binance until April 30, 2025. The delay will give Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) time to respond to Binance’s request to invalidate a court order allowing documents to be served via email.

The case involves claims that Binance owes $2 billion in back taxes plus an additional $79.5 billion that Nigeria says is due for economic damages. Nigerian authorities allege the exchange’s operations destabilized the country’s currency, the naira.

Binance’s lawyer, Chukwuka Ikwuazom, challenged the email service order in court on April 7. He argued the tax authority failed to get proper permission to serve court documents to Binance outside Nigeria, noting the company is registered in the Cayman Islands and has no physical office in Nigeria.

Tax Claims Against Crypto Exchange

The FIRS filed the lawsuit in February 2025, claiming Binance maintains a “significant economic presence” in Nigeria. This presence, according to tax authorities, makes the company liable for corporate income taxes for 2022 and 2023.

Nigeria is asking the court to order Binance to pay these taxes plus a 10% annual penalty on unpaid amounts. The tax authority is also seeking nearly 27% interest on the unpaid taxes.

The economic damages claim of $79.5 billion stems from allegations that Binance’s operations hurt the value of the naira. Binance has denied these claims about destabilizing the Nigerian currency.

Binance effectively exited the Nigerian market in March 2024 by stopping naira deposits and withdrawals on its platform. This move came amid mounting pressure from Nigerian authorities.

Previous Detentions and Escapes

The current tax case follows earlier legal troubles for Binance in Nigeria. In February 2024, Nigerian authorities arrested and detained two Binance executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, on tax fraud and money laundering charges.

Nigeria later dropped the tax charges against both executives in June 2024. The remaining charge against Gambaryan was dropped in October.

Anjarwalla escaped Nigerian custody in March 2024, reportedly slipping away from guards and fleeing to Kenya. He remains at large, according to reports.

Gambaryan, a US citizen, was released and returned home in October 2024. Reports indicated his health had worsened during detention, with cases of pneumonia, malaria, and a herniated spinal disc requiring possible surgery.

Binance has stated it is working with Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service to resolve potential historic tax liabilities. However, the company had not immediately responded to requests for comment on the latest court developments at the time of reporting.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between cryptocurrency platforms and national regulators as countries work to establish frameworks for taxing and regulating digital asset businesses operating within their borders.

The next court date of April 30 will determine whether Binance’s challenge to the service order will be accepted or if the case will proceed under the current terms.