In February 2024, the Nigerian authorities initiated a clampdown move on crypto activities in the country as part of plans to curb what it claimed was a manipulation of its currency exchange pricing and terrorism financing on crypto exchanges’ peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms.
To dialogue with the Nigerian government, two officials of the world’s largest crypto exchange, Binance, Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and head of financial crimes compliance, and British-Kenyan national Nadeem Anjarwalla, a regional manager for Africa arrived in Nigeria on February 26 for a strategic meeting.
Subsequently, both executives were detained by the government and charged with laundering more than $35 million and engaging in specialised financial activities without a licence.
In March, Nadeem Anjarwalla ‘escaped’ from detention and reportedly flew out of the country with a fake passport. However, his counterpart, Tigran Gambaryan, a 40-year-old compliance officer at Binance has been in detention since then.
Related post: Health of detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan is ‘shockingly bad’- wife says
Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja dropped charges against two executives of the crypto exchange, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla from the FIRS tax evasion case against the company.
The court ruled following an amended charges application filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in response to a notice from Binance that it has appointed a Nigerian representative in the case, Ayodele Omotilewa.
Judge Emeka Nwite also adjourned the tax evasion trial against Binance on October 11. Despite the closure of his tax-related case and the dropping of charges by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission continues to pursue charges against him.
It’s been six months today (August 26) since Tigran Gambaryan has been in detention and there are growing concerns about his health and wellbeing.
Health and other concerns as Tigran Gambaryan spends 6 months in detention
According to his family, Tigran Gambaryan’s health has severely deteriorated. Their representatives claim that his condition has left him bedridden and in urgent need of medical care that has been consistently denied.
A medical report says he is now in so much pain from a herniated disc in his back that he can no longer walk. As he is bed-bound, he has to take blood thinners to avoid blood clots and the prison doctor has said that his muscles have atrophied.
Also notable among the family’s claims is that his legal team has been unable to adequately prepare for his trial owing to restricted access- which goes against the Nigerian constitution (Chapter 4, section 36 and subsection 6b). They claim that from July 26th to August 14th, Tigran’s lawyers were not allowed to enter the prison to visit him and prepare for his trial. They were allowed a brief 5-minute visit on August 15th but have since been blocked from entering again.
Similarly, the US Embassy no longer has access to him as he is not allowed to use a wheelchair and he cannot physically walk to the visitor area.
The Nigerian authorities have reportedly refused to release Tigran’s medical records to his legal team and the American embassy despite repeated court orders that they do so. The judge presiding over the case has therefore issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the Nigerian prison doctor.
However, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), in June, assured that the Binance executive is in good health, countering allegations from his family regarding his deteriorating condition. “Gambaryan is fine with us, and he will continue to be fine with us,” spokesperson, Abubakar reiterated, aiming to dispel any worries about the Binance executive’s wellbeing.
The NCoS hasn’t provided any updates since then.
Tigran’s family struggles
In a heartfelt statement, Tigran Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, conveyed her deep concern as Tigran. has several family landmark events while in detention.
These include his son’s 5th birthday, his first day in school as well as his 40th birthday. Now, he is about to miss his wife’s birthday which is on August 31st as well as their 15th wedding anniversary.
Read also: Health of Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan deteriorates in detention, family says
In addition, Yuki released a video plea to ask for his release before the damage done to him is irreversible.
She laments:
“It has been 6 months since I last hugged my husband and since our children last held their father’s hand
Tigran Gambaryan, my husband, a former US federal agent, has now been detained in a Nigerian prison for half a year. His health is deteriorating to the point where he can no longer walk and he is being inhumanely denied the use of a wheelchair. Between bouts of malaria, pneumonia, and the incredible mental toll of his detention, Tigran, who is usually so strong, is reaching a breaking point. He needs immediate medical treatment and risks permanent damage.”
Adding:
“For 6 months, our living nightmare has been filled with pleas. Pleas to the U.S. government, pleas to the Nigerian government, pleas to the media, pleas to anyone who will listen. I am pleading for their mercy, for their understanding, for their humanity. My husband is innocent and needs to be released before it is too late and the damage done to him is irreversible. 6 months is too long, please help me bring my husband home.”
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