A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has scheduled November 12, 2025, to deliver a ruling on a motion filed by Binance Holdings Limited, challenging the method used by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to serve court documents in a $79.5 billion tax evasion case.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date after listening to final arguments from legal representatives of both Binance and the FIRS during proceedings on Wednesday.
The suit—originally filed by the FIRS on September 30, 2024—accuses Binance, along with its executives Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, of causing massive economic losses to Nigeria through their operations in the country.
The FIRS, through its lead counsel Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, is asking the court to determine whether Binance, under Nigeria’s Companies Income Tax Act and the Significant Economic Presence Order, is liable to pay corporate tax to the federal government.
*Binance pushes back on email-based court notice*
Binance, represented by Chukwuka Ikwuazom, SAN, is contesting an earlier court order that allowed the FIRS to serve legal documents through email, citing lack of due process.
The FIRS had argued it was unable to serve Binance physically as the company has no official presence in Nigeria. Subsequently, Justice Inyang Ekwo, who was initially assigned to the case, granted FIRS leave on February 11, 2025, to serve Binance via email—specifically to Eleanor Hughes, identified as the firm’s General Counsel.
However, Binance insists this method is flawed. Ikwuazom argued that the company is registered in the Cayman Islands and that under Nigerian court rules, substituted service like email can only be used outside jurisdiction after obtaining the court’s leave—which the FIRS allegedly failed to do.
> “By the rules of this court, service of originating processes on a company like the applicant can only be done by delivering it to a principal officer or at the registered address,” Ikwuazom stated.
He further contended that service outside Nigeria should follow strict procedures, which include demonstrating failed attempts at physical service and, in some cases, cooperation with foreign authorities.
*FIRS disputes Binance’s claims*
In response, the FIRS, through its litigation officer Ishaya Isuwa, filed a counter affidavit dismissing Binance’s arguments as misleading.
Isuwa claimed Binance’s alleged registration in the Cayman Islands was not substantiated, and that the company maintains “significant economic presence in Nigeria” despite lacking a physical office.
He also insisted that Eleanor Hughes, the recipient of the email service, is a high-ranking officer at Binance who had previously communicated with Nigerian authorities and appointed legal representation for the firm.
> “The 1st defendant has no registered address in the Cayman Islands but operates a digital platform active in Nigeria. The court documents were served to its General Counsel, who has acted on behalf of the company in various correspondences,” Isuwa said.
He added that the law firm Aluko & Oyebode, which has been representing Binance in related investigations, was aware of the court proceedings and had been contacted regarding service of the documents.
*High-stakes legal battle*
The tax case stems from allegations that Binance’s activities in Nigeria violated tax laws and contributed to substantial economic harm. The FIRS is seeking $79.5 billion in damages—one of the largest such claims in Nigeria’s legal history.
Earlier developments in the broader legal saga saw Gambaryan released from custody in October 2024 after money laundering charges were dropped by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). His co-accused, Anjarwalla, made headlines in March 2024 after escaping from custody while under investigation.
As the court prepares to rule on whether the substituted service via email was legally valid, the outcome may significantly shape how Nigerian regulators proceed against global digital platforms operating without local offices.
