There are two independent mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit of the title compound {systematic name: ethyl 2-(2-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl)-2-[2-(4-nitro-phen-yl)hydrazinyl-idene]ethano-ate}, C(18)H(17)N(5)O(4). Each mol-ecule and its inversion-related partner are linked by a pair of inter-molecular N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers in the crystal structure.