By Adedapo Adesanya
Cryptocurrency firm, Binance, has once again asked Nigeria to release Mr Tigran Gambaryan, a top company’s executive detained in the country since February 2024.
This comes after videos emerged of Mr Gambaryan, a US citizen, being denied the use of a wheelchair by prison officials went viral.
In the video seen by Business Post, the detained Binance executive was expressing displeasure about his neglect and treatment.
“We are extremely distressed by the video of Tigran in court yesterday (on Monday). This video is just a snapshot of Tigran’s current reality. His health is rapidly declining and we are deeply concerned about the long-term consequences of this unjust detention,” a Binance spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Nigeria does not need to keep Tigran in order for us to settle any alleged past issues. We continue to implore the Government of Nigeria to let Tigran return home and let us continue in our engagements.”
Mr Gambrayan is currently remanded in Kuje prison over money laundering charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also against Binance.
Nigeria has accused Binance of triggering challenges in the foreign exchange market and also tax evasion, charges which the company continually denied. The company as a result discontinued its Peer-to-Peer (P2P) services and limited operations.
His lawyers filed a new bail application citing his deteriorating health condition. However, the EFCC and its lawyers opposed the application based on his medical records.
The court will rule on the bail application on September 4.
Mr Gambaryan and his colleague, Mr Najeem Arjawalla, were detained by the Nigerian government but later escaped from house arrest.
The Chief Executive Officer of Binance, Mr Richard Teng, on X, formerly known as Twitter, also weighed on the video.
“This inhumane treatment of Tigran must end. He must be allowed to go home for medical treatment and to be with his family,” he wrote.
