TLDR
- Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan is detained in Nigeria, facing health issues in custody.
- A Nigerian court issued an arrest warrant for a prison doctor who failed to provide Gambaryan’s medical reports.
- Gambaryan appeared in court in a wheelchair, complaining of back pain.
- U.S. Congressmen have intervened, urging for Gambaryan’s release and proper medical care.
- Binance and its executives are accused of money laundering and forex market manipulation in Nigeria.
The ongoing detention of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan in Nigeria has taken a new turn, with health concerns and legal developments coming to the forefront.
Gambaryan, who serves as Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, has been held in custody since February 2024, facing charges of money laundering and foreign exchange market manipulation.
Recent court appearances have highlighted Gambaryan’s declining health. In a hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja, he arrived in a wheelchair, reportedly suffering from severe back pain.
This development has intensified concerns about his well-being while in detention at Kuje prison.
The situation has caught the attention of U.S. lawmakers. Representatives French Hill and Rich McCormick submitted a resolution to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, urging the government to consider Gambaryan a wrongfully detained hostage.
Rep. Hill, who visited Gambaryan in prison, reported that the executive’s health is “deteriorating” in custody.
Gambaryan’s family has been vocal about his condition. They claim he has been “suffering immensely” and has been diagnosed with double pneumonia and malaria.
His wife, Yuki, expressed deep concern, stating,
“I am heartbroken to see my once fit and healthy husband reduced to such a condition.”
The legal proceedings have taken an unexpected turn with the court issuing a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr. Abraham Ehizojie, a medical doctor at Kuje Correctional Centre.
This action came after the doctor failed to provide Gambaryan’s medical reports or appear in court as ordered.
Justice Emeka Nwite criticized the disregard for court orders and instructed that Gambaryan be taken to Nizamiye Hospital for a 24-hour medical checkup under full security.
The case against Gambaryan is part of a larger legal battle involving Binance in Nigeria. The cryptocurrency exchange and its executives are accused of conspiring to conceal the origins of $35,400,000 in financial proceeds from alleged unlawful activities in Nigeria.
Another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who was also detained, reportedly fled the country after escaping custody.
Binance CEO Richard Teng has publicly demanded Gambaryan’s release, stating that the executive is being held in “a dangerous prison in order to control Binance.”
This statement highlights the tension between the cryptocurrency exchange and Nigerian authorities.
The case has broader implications for the cryptocurrency industry in Nigeria, which is Africa’s largest crypto market.
Nigerian authorities have accused Binance and other exchanges of infractions including currency manipulation and facilitating transfers of illicit funds.
As the legal proceedings continue, the focus remains on Gambaryan’s health and the conditions of his detention. The court has adjourned the case to October 11 for continuation, while ordering immediate medical attention for the detained executive.
