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A Nigerian court recently ruled that cryptocurrency exchange Binance must provide detailed information related to Nigerian traders to Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The interim order issued by Justice Emeka Nwite from the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court follows a motion filed by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho.
“The applicant’s application dated and filed on February 29, 2024, is hereby granted as prayed. That an order of this honorable court is hereby made directing the operators of Binance to provide the commission with comprehensive data/information relating to all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform,” The court order stated.
Nigeria's premier financial crimes investigation agency, the EFCC, is actively investigating Binance's Nigerian user base. Previously, the agency had requested information on the top 100 users in the country along with their transaction history spanning the preceding six months.
Nigeria’s Concerns and Allegations
Nigeria’s scrutiny of the crypto industry stems from concerns over the purported facilitation of illegal capital outflows, a phenomenon believed to have contributed to the devaluation of the Nigerian naira against the dollar. For its alleged role in enabling significant capital movements, the Nigerian authorities have focused on Binance in particular.
Reports suggest that Nigerian authorities have demanded $10 billion in penalties from Binance for its involvement in handling approximately $26 billion of untraceable funds. Moreover, two senior Binance executives were detained by Nigerian authorities following their invitation to the country for discussions on the matter. Their court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, according to Reuters.
While Binance’s privacy terms stipulate the possibility of sharing user data with authorities for legal and regulatory compliance, the exchange’s stance on adhering to the Nigerian court’s directives remains uncertain.