Eighteen State Attorney Generals have officially demanded the help of President Joe Biden to secure the release of detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan. The group urged the United States President to act on behalf of Gambaryan using the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act.
In a joint letter sent on October 18, the group expressed deep concerns over Gambaryan’s unlawful detention and worsening health conditions.
The letter written by Attorney General John Formella reads in part:
“His continued detention without cause is not only a violation of his rights but also poses a severe risk to his health and well-being. We must advocate for U.S. citizens abroad, and we urge the federal government to apply the necessary diplomatic pressure to secure his release.”
Recall that Tigran Gambaryan was detained in February and his health has reportedly deteriorated in the infamous Kuje prison where he’s being incarcerated. Due to worsening health conditions, his lawyers filed a new bail application for him on medical grounds last month.
According to a report by the DailyCoin, Tigran’s lawyer, Mark Mordi requested a full bail or a six-week bail for urgent medical care He argued that Tigran requires intervention from an orthopaedic surgeon and a psychiatrist, citing a July 18 medical report from the State House Annex clinic, in which a neurosurgeon recommended that the Binance executive undergo lumbar surgery as soon as possible.
The attorney stated that Gambaryan’s condition exceeded the scope of what the Nigerian Correctional Service could handle. He also argued that the Correctional Service and the prosecution had shown gross negligence.
Responding to the allegations, the EFCC lawyer, Emeka Iheanacho claimed that Gambaryan was the one who had refused treatment, pointing out an alleged scenario where Tigran Gambaryan had been taken to two neurosurgeons for his herniated disk condition who were unable to treat him because of his alleged resistance.
Following the decision to postpone the hearing, concerns for Gambaryan’s health have intensified. Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to October 25 after the Binance Executive’s inability to appear in court.
Was Gambaryan Wrongfully Detained?
Following the sudden crash of the naira in May 2023, the Federal Government accused Binance of involvement in disrupting the currency. On his visit to Nigeria, Gambaryan was detained after the cryptocurrency company was allegedly connected to cybercrimes totalling about $34 million.
A US lawmaker, Representative Rich McCormick, has reacted that Gambaryan was wrongfully detained. He claimed that the Federal Government was holding Gambaryan unlawfully, tagging it as a “hostage” situation. He stressed that the Binance’s Executive is being detained to extort the cryptocurrency exchange for money.
After a troubling video displaying Gambaryan struggling to walk, Binance CEO, Richard Teng, has demanded his immediate release.
Tagging the video, Teng wrote in a September 3 X post:
“This inhumane treatment of Tigran must end. He must be allowed to go home for medical treatment and to be with his family.”
In a separate reaction, global crypto company, Binance expressed deep disappointment by the court’s decision to deny Tigran bail, particularly given his deteriorating health. “Tigran did not go to Nigeria as a decision-maker and there is no good reason to continue to hold him. We are committed to working with the Nigerian government to resolve issues, but Tigran must be allowed to go home”, the company’s spokesperson said in an official email to Technext.
Meanwhile, the EFCC lawyer, Emeka Iheanacho argued against the bail application because Gambaryan’s health is deteriorating.
He maintained that contrary to claims made by the defence, Tigran’s condition was not beyond the capacity of the Correctional Service. He pointed out that Gambaryan’s struggles with anxiety and with his spine were historical medical conditions.
He also suggested that the defendant was likely exaggerating his symptoms, pointing to the recurring theme of high-profile defendants feigning illness to avoid prosecution in Nigeria.