Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan Appears in Nigerian Court on Crutches

Tigran Gambaryan, Vice President for Global Intelligence and Investigations at Binance, appeared at resumed court hearings in Nigeria on crutches due to the denial of a wheelchair. This was reported by The Block, citing a statement from the defendant’s family.

The authorities of the African nation have held the American citizen executive in prison for six months. His physical and mental health is deteriorating due to a herniated disc, as well as bouts of pneumonia, malaria, and tonsillitis.

The family reported that Gambaryan was in obvious pain and at one point broke down in tears in court.

Lawyers have filed a new motion for his release on bail for medical reasons. They also challenged the ban on access to their client in Kuje prison, which hinders preparation for hearings.

Prosecutors from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission claimed that Gambaryan was not ill and refused treatment. However, according to his relatives, medical documentation recommending urgent surgery was provided to the authorities. They claim that some key records have gone missing from the case.

The judge ruled to allow Gambaryan to use a wheelchair. The consideration of the bail application will continue on September 4.

“My husband was unlawfully detained by the Nigerian government after being invited to their country under false pretenses. During this prolonged detention, his health continues to deteriorate, and he is now in such severe pain that he can barely walk. The US government must do more to help Tigran,” said his wife Yuki.

She added that the authorities deny Gambaryan’s health issues and conceal the medical evidence provided to them. Some documents were only disclosed during the latest court session.

“This entire situation is inhumane and degrading, and I am fed up. This disregard for the law and human rights must have consequences,” Yuki added.

Gambaryan and the director of the exchange in West and East Africa, Nadim Anjarwalla, were detained after a meeting with Nigerian authorities in February. Along with Binance Holdings Limited, they were accused of tax evasion and money laundering. The company and executives deny the charges.

At the end of March, Anjarwalla secretly flew from Nigeria to Kenya. However, authorities tracked him down there and arranged for extradition.

In June, Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service dropped tax evasion charges against the executives. However, they remain involved in the money laundering case.

US Representatives French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan, who visited Gambaryan in prison, stated that he is not receiving adequate medical care. Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, refuted their claims.

In late August, Binance CEO Richard Teng reported a rapid decline in the executive’s physical and mental health.