Detained Binance Executive, Tigran Gambaryan, appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday as the ongoing case between Nigerian authorities and Binance Limited intensified. 

Tigran, who has now spent 6 months in detention, appeared at the court with clutches finding it difficult to walk on his own.

His family, led by his wife Yuki Gambaryan, argued that Tigran can no longer work unsupported due to health challenges involving a disc issue.

Tigran’s lead counsel Mark Mordi SAN appealed for a fresh bail seeking his release for him to attend to his health conditions.

EFCC lead counsel Ekene Iheanacho countered the Appeal stating that Tigran’s health condition was not as serious as he was portraying it.

On July 30, 2024, Gambaryan’s family released a detailed explanation of Tigran Gambaryan’s alleged health challenge which has crippled the Binance employee. They backed their statement up with claims that the detained executive was denied proper health attention in detention. 

“In detention, he has been denied access to appropriate medical care and 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 is taking blood thinners to avoid blood clots, and the prison doctor has said that his muscles have atrophied,” the family said. 

Tigran’s lead counsel Mark Mordi explained to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja that his client has lived with this disc condition for the past 12 years. He added that his detention has made the situation worse. 

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the July 30 hearing to September 11, 2024, after ordering the prison management to provide Tigran with a wheelchair and make sure he uses it. 

Backstory 

The spat between Nigerian authorities and Binance Limited began on February 28, 2024. Two Binance executives were detained by Nigerian authorities upon their arrival to the country to honor an invitation. 

Nardeem Anjarwalla a 37-year-old British-Kenyan regional manager for Africa, and Tigran Gambaryan, a 39-year-old American Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance were detained by Nigerian authorities and charged with money laundering and tax evasion on behalf of their company Binance Limited. 

Nardeem Anjarwalla the British-Knyan managed to escape custody with a Kenyan passport to Kenya while his other colleague Tigran Gambaryan has been stuck in detention for 6 months now. 

The case of Tigran Gambaryan has blossomed into a global issue in the crypto industry with influential voices like Brian Armstrong of Coinbase pitching in for his release. 

12 Ex United States Senators also wrote to President Joe Biden on the issue demanding the release of Tigran Gambaryan and his extradition back to the United States. 

Binance, the biggest crypto exchange in the industry, has faced a couple of regulatory issues in various jurisdictions including Brazil, India, and even the United States. 

Binance has reacted to this challenge by pledging to double its workforce, especially in areas of compliance.