Tigran Gambaryan, the head of compliance at Binance, remains imprisoned in Nigeria, suspected of suffering from malaria, according to a family spokesperson who spoke with CoinDesk. Gambaryan collapsed in a Nigerian court on May 24 and is facing charges of tax evasion and money laundering.
Detention and Health Concerns
Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, has been in Nigerian detention for over two months. He was invited by Nigerian authorities to address a dispute involving Binance. Following a meeting with government officials, Gambaryan and another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were detained by law enforcement. Anjarwalla later escaped but remains implicated in the money laundering charges.
Despite a court order from Justice Emeka Nwite on May 23 mandating his transfer to a hospital, Gambaryan has not been moved from Kuje prison. The inadequate medical facilities at Kuje have prevented a definitive diagnosis, but it is suspected that he has a severe throat infection and malaria.
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Family Plea for Medical Attention
Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki Gambaryan, expressed her distress and frustration in a statement to CoinDesk, emphasizing the urgency of her husband’s medical needs. “Tigran does not deserve such inhumane treatment. He has done nothing wrong and is suffering simply because he accepted an invitation to a meeting in Abuja. This has gone too far. I am begging everyone who can help, including our own American government, to recognize that an innocent man’s life is at risk. Please, at least let him go to the hospital so he can recover. But more importantly, let him come home to us.”
Legal Proceedings
The hearings for Gambaryan’s tax evasion and money laundering charges are scheduled for June 14 and June 20, respectively, according to a local news report. His family and supporters are calling for immediate medical attention and his release, highlighting the potential risk to his life if his health concerns are not addressed promptly.
