Six months after accusing Binance of inflicting an alleged $81 billion economic wound, Nigerian prosecutors are still struggling with the most straightforward task: telling the crypto exchange giant that it’s being sued.

A judge now plans to settle that question once and for all next month.

At a hearing this week, the presiding judge, Justice Umar Mohammed, fixed November 12 to rule on whether the Federal Inland Revenue Service can employ substituted service, according to proceedings monitored by DL News.

Substituted service is a legal loophole that allows prosecutors to deliver charges through electronic means when the defendant cannot be reached directly.

The FIRS has stated that it’s the only route forward for its case, as there are no Binance officials in Nigeria.

Binance’s attorneys have countered the FIRS’ claims, saying prosecutors bungled attempts to contact Binance. DL News previously reported that prosecutors sent a court summons to the wrong email address in April.

Binance did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Behind the court delays and procedural mishaps lies a serious standoff.

$81 billion

The FIRS accused Binance of causing $81 billion in economic losses to Nigeria between 2023 and 2024, which stemmed from the company’s failure to pay taxes and its alleged operation without a license in the country.

Binance also faces two separate cases in Nigeria: one for alleged tax evasion and a $35 million money laundering indictment.

Binance has denied any wrongdoing.

Both cases have ground to a halt due to several court delays.

In March, Nigeria’s Information Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, told DL News in an exclusive interview that investigators discovered evidence of funds linked to terrorists and kidnappers flowing through Binance.

The minister said Binance’s operations in Nigeria “exacerbated security concerns” in the country.

Kuje prison

Last year, Nigeria’s government detained two Binance executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla. Both men came to Nigeria to negotiate with state officials amid a brewing regulatory crisis.

Anjarwalla, the exchange’s regional manager for Africa, based in Kenya, managed to escape detention. There’s an Interpol Red Notice against him, according to Nigerian officials.

Gambaryan, who previously headed the exchange’s financial compliance department, was detained for eight months in Kuje prison.

He was finally released in October 2024 after negotiations between the Biden administration and Nigerian authorities.

Gambaryan has since resigned from Binance.

Osato Avan-Nomayo is our Nigeria-based DeFi correspondent. He covers DeFi and tech. Got a tip? Please contact him at osato@dlnews.com.