Aduragbemi Omiyale
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Mrs Yuki Gambaryan, the wife of the detained executive of Binance Holdings Limited, Mr Tigran Gambaryan, has again appealed to the Nigerian government to release her husband from custody after over a month.
In an open letter obtained by Business Post, she described her “innocent husband” as “an incredible father, loving husband, and supportive friend,” who is “merely an employee” of the cryptocurrency exchange platform the local authorities have an issue with.
The federal government accused Binance of manipulating the country’s currency, the Naira, saying this was why it was performing badly against the US Dollar in the currency market.
The government also accused the firm of evading taxes, dragging Binance and Mr Gambaryan before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday on a five-count charge bordering on tax evasion, currency speculation and money laundering to the tune of $34.4 million.
In the open letter, Mrs Gambaryan begged the government to free her man so he could return to his family in the United States, where he flew into Nigeria from on February 26, 2024, when he was detained.
My name is Yuki Gambaryan, and I am pleading with you from the bottom of my heart as the wife of Tigran Gambaryan to please allow my innocent husband to come home.
Tigran is first and foremost an incredible father, loving husband, and supportive friend to everyone who meets him. He has a deep respect for Nigeria and its people, and in fact, he had expressed excitement to me at the prospect of starting to work in your country.
I understand and respect your decision to scrutinize his employer, Binance. I realize that this whole situation has arisen from your commitment to your country and its citizens. However, Tigran is merely an employee.
He does not have authority over Binance’s corporate decisions or policies that might have impacted Nigeria. He spends his workday investigating and pursuing criminal activity on the platform. His very job is to help governments, like yours, prosecute and prevent illicit activity.
Sadly, any influence he might have had at Binance to help the company leaders understand your position in this disagreement is trapped in that cell with him.
Tigran is globally recognized for his significant contributions in solving crimes involving cryptocurrencies. I know many of his peers, including in Nigeria, would say that Tigran’s continuous efforts not only decrease illicit activity on Binance’s platform but for all cryptocurrencies across the world.
Tigran and I have two young children. This is the longest their Dad has ever been away from them, and they don’t understand why he hasn’t come home to them. They ask me every day when he will be coming home, and still, I cannot give them an answer. This week is going to be especially difficult as it is our youngest’s 5th birthday on Friday. I never imagined Tigran would not be here with us to celebrate it.
Meanwhile, his ageing mother spends her days in tears, praying for the safe return of her only son. She raised Tigran almost all on her own. He is her everything, the thought of him being in a country so far away from her and in these circumstances is beyond devastating to her.
A small part of me chips away every day without Tigran by my side. He is the love of my life, and I cannot imagine a life without him. I plead with you from the depths of my heart to release Tigran. Please let our children see their father. Your act of mercy would be eternally appreciated, the open letter read.
