Continued detention of Gambaryan unjust — release him for medical treatment, Binance tells FG

Richard Teng, chief executive officer (CEO) of Binance, a cryptocurrency firm, has raised concerns over the conditions of Tigran Gambaryan, a senior executive of the firm, in Nigeria’s custody.

On February 28, Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, were detained by the Nigerian authorities.

The federal government, on March 25, filed a criminal charge against Binance for “tax evasion” — the same period Anjarwalla fled detention.

In April, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a suit against Binance and Gambaryan over allegations bordering on money laundering.

However, Gambaryan’s health, according to Yuki, his wife, is getting worse and needs “highly specialised and risky surgery” to treat the herniated disc in his back.

Speaking on the condition of Gambaryan, Teng said his detention is “unjust, unfairly and unlawful”.

“Tigran’s physical and mental conditions have deteriorated rapidly with his situation being more dire than ever.  He is in severe pain and unable to walk due to a herniated disc,” he said.

“Despite his conditions, the Nigerian government has refused adequate medical care, including basic needs such as providing access to a wheelchair.

“Furthermore, they are refusing to provide access to his legal counsel, despite a trial commencing on 2 September, which we have been informed is unconstitutional in Nigeria.

“A court has demanded the government release Tigran’s medical records but after several months, they have still not complied. This week Tigran was denied access to his US consulate representative. These actions are inexplicable.”

Teng also said he is deeply concerned about the long-term, potentially irreversible physical and mental impact “this horrific episode is having on Tigran”.

“I appeal once again for the Nigerian government to allow him to go home to his family on humanitarian grounds so that he can seek the appropriate medical treatment in the US, recover and get back to the healthy, active life he previously had,” the Binance CEO said.

“Tigran is a proud American who should not be subject to such unjust treatment. It is my sincere hope that the American government and political apparatus can exert its political will and muscle to bring Tigran home soon, so that he can get the adequate treatment and be reunited with his family and loved ones.

“The US administration and legislators have the power to designate Tigran as one of its “unlawfully detained” citizens overseas and there are substantial reasons to do so.”

‘DO NOT USE BASELESS ALLEGATIONS TO HOLD GAMBARYAN’