Key Takeaways:
- U.S. politicians claim Nigerian authorities are detaining Tigran Gambaryan on baseless charges of money laundering and tax evasion.
- Gambaryan, held in harsh conditions and suffering from malaria, has not been transferred for proper medical treatment despite a court order.
- A letter from 12 U.S. politicians urges President Biden to intervene, highlighting Gambaryan’s wrongful detention and risk to his life.
Several U.S. politicians have accused the Nigerian government of charging Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance compliance officer and former federal agent, with “baseless” crimes.
Gambaryan has been detained in Nigeria for over three months on allegations of money laundering and tax evasion.
🚨NEW: House members including Chairman @RepMcCaul of the @HouseForeignGOP have sent a letter to @POTUS, @SecBlinken and @StateSPEHA urging them to bring detained @binance employee Tigran Gambaryan home.
— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) June 4, 2024
According to the letter, Gambaryan has contracted malaria and is being… pic.twitter.com/XCRyS8IPUT
The politicians have urged President Biden and other officials to intervene, emphasizing that Gambaryan is “wrongfully detained” and his life is at risk.
The letter to President Biden, Secretary Antony Blinken, and the Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger D. Carstens, signed by 12 U.S. politicians, calls for immediate action to ensure Gambaryan’s safety.
They claim Nigerian authorities are using these charges to extort Binance.
Sixteen members of Congress have sent a letter to President Biden asking him to treat Nigeria's jailing of Binance exec Tigran Gambaryan—a former IRS investigator with perhaps the best record of fighting cryptocurrency crime of any federal agent—as an urgent hostage situation. pic.twitter.com/rQgNLYPDPp
— Andy Greenberg (@agreenberg at the other places) (@a_greenberg) June 5, 2024
Gambaryan was in Nigeria to address compliance issues at the government’s invitation but was detained after two initially professional meetings became hostile.
Gambaryan is currently held in Kuje Prison, known for its harsh conditions, and has tested positive for malaria.
Despite a court order, he has not been transferred to a private hospital for treatment.
BINANCE EXECUTIVE SUSPECTED OF MALARIA IN NIGERIAN JAIL
— Mario Nawfal’s Roundtable (@RoundtableSpace) May 30, 2024
Binance's compliance head, Tigran Gambaryan, suspected of having malaria, remains jailed in Nigeria. A family spokesperson reported that despite a court order, he has not been moved to a hospital. Gambaryan collapsed in… pic.twitter.com/j62jsRJ4SN
His physical condition has deteriorated, and he collapsed in court.
Additionally, he has been denied bail and has limited access to his legal team without Nigerian authorities’ presence.
Alleged $34.4m Fraud: Court Refuses Binance Executive Bail as EFCC Presents First Witness
— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) May 18, 2024
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday 17, May 2024, threw out a bail application filed by Tigran Gambaryan, Binance executive and second defendant in an alleged… pic.twitter.com/3zHTj7DLGN
Prior to joining Binance, Gambaryan worked as a federal agent at the IRS for ten years.
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