A Nigerian court has refused to grant the bail application of detained Binance employee, Tigran Gambaryan based on his likelihood to jump bail.

On Friday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court refused pleas by the defense counsel for bail, stating that the defendant attempted to get a new passport, an act he described as suspicious considering the recent escape of his colleague from custody.

“The fact that the passport of the defendant is with the complainant does not guarantee that he will remain in Nigeria because the defendant is not only an American citizen but also an Armenian citizen by birth,” the Justice said according to Channels Television.

A hearing on Nigeria's government's joint money laundering and tax evasion trial against Binance and Gambaryan was also held on Friday. While the court ruled that Binance could be served with the Federal Inland Revenue Service tax evasion charge through Gambaryan, his lawyers objected to the application because they needed to review the amended charge to advise Gambaryan on taking his plea. The court agreed to adjourn the matter to May 22 for arraignment.

Gambaryan, who marked his 40th birthday at the court, has been detained in Nigeria since February 26th alongside escaped British-Kenyan regional manager for Africa, Nadeem Anjarwalla. Anjarwalla.

“I truly cannot believe that my innocent husband is now - on his 40th birthday - having to face a trial for charges that he has nothing to do with,” Yuki Gambaryan, the wife of Tigran Gambaryan told CoinDesk.

“The whole world is watching what he is being put through, and I just pray that common sense and justice will prevail and that Tigran will be allowed to come home to us.”

The EFFC’s money laundering case started off with the anti-graft agency calling on Abdulkadir Abbas a staff of the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as the first prosecution witness.

Following the prosecution's examination of their first witness, Gambaryan's lawyers requested a brief recess to obtain certified records of specific documents in the evidence to prepare for the cross-examination. The trial was then adjourned until May 23 at noon.

Recently, a blog post by Binance’s CEO Richard Teng called for the release of Gambaryan by Nigerian authorities.

“We are deeply disappointed that Tigran Gambaryan, who has no decision-making power in the company, continues to be detained,” a Binance spokesperson told the media. “Tigran has been dedicated to public service and fighting crime for most of his life. These charges against him are completely meritless. He should be freed while discussions continue between Binance and Nigerian government officials.”