Two United States Congress representatives are currently in Nigeria, advocating for the liberation of Tigran Gambaryan, an employee of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who has been incarcerated for the past four months at Kuje prison in Abuja.
The Congress members have expressed their concern, stating that Gambaryan is effectively being held captive in Nigeria and are calling for his immediate return to the United States.
Despite these calls, the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) insists on pursuing allegations of money laundering against the Binance staff member. This stance comes even after the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) decided to drop charges related to tax evasion.
The visiting legislators, French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan, have reported distressing conditions faced by Gambaryan during their visit. They described his health as deteriorating, suffering from malaria and double pneumonia, and noted that he has experienced significant weight loss. They also highlighted the lack of sufficient medical care being provided to him in detention.
Congressman Hill conveyed through a social media platform that their trip to Nigeria was initially intended as a national security mission to discuss the United States’ support for Nigeria in its fight against terrorism. However, they seized this opportunity to seek justice for Gambaryan, who they believe is unjustly imprisoned in Kuje prison.
Gambaryan’s detention by the Nigerian authorities took place on February 28, 2024, following an invitation for him and Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s Regional Manager for Africa, to engage with the EFCC and the Office of the National Security Adviser. While Anjarwalla managed to evade custody, Gambaryan continues to be held at Kuje Prison.
On June 15, 2024, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) of Nigeria withdrew its tax evasion allegations against executives of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Despite this development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has affirmed its intention to persist with the prosecution of Tigran Gambaryan on charges of money laundering.
In response to the accusations, Binance has defended Gambaryan by asserting that he does not hold a decision-making role within the company’s hierarchy. The ongoing detention of Gambaryan has increasingly drawn the attention of United States legislators, a factor that could potentially influence the outcome of his case.
Prior to the visit by Congress members French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan, other US lawmakers had already reached out to President Joe Biden, urging him to intervene and ensure the safe release of Gambaryan, who is a US citizen. There is a growing concern among these officials for his well-being, given the conditions of his imprisonment.
