Binance exec in Nigerian prison denied access to legal team amidst worsening health

Representatives of Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, have alleged that Nigerian authorities have not granted access to his legal team since July 26. In addition, his health continues to deteriorate as he remains incarcerated at the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. 

The details 

• Per a press release shared with Mariblock by Gambaryan’s representatives, the legal team has not even been allowed to enter the prison. 
• In addition, despite a court order, Nigerian officials have still not released his medical records to his lawyers. 
• According to Gambaryan’s representatives, the embattled former United States military man requires surgery for a herniated disc while he suffers from throat infections and pneumonia, all ailments he reportedly picked up in prison. 
• His wife, Yuki, continues to appeal to the Nigerian government for his release so he can get adequate medical treatment. 
• Legal proceedings in the Abuja-based Federal High Court are scheduled to resume on October 11 having been adjourned on July 16 

Key quote 

• The press release reads:

“Since the court in Abuja went on holiday on July 16th ... Tigran’s detention conditions have significantly worsened. Since July 26th, his legal team has been blocked from entering Kuje prison to meet with him ...” 

• Yuki said: 

“The herniated disc in Tigran’s back requires highly specialized and risky surgery. He has had so many throat infections as well as pneumonia at Kuje, that he now also requires further surgery to remove his tonsils ... Despite his health being in such a concerning condition, the prison continues to hold his medical records.”  

Catch up 

• Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, two top officials of the global cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, flew into Nigeria on February 26 at the invitation of the Nigerian government. 
• They were subsequently detained, and their passports confiscated. However, while Anjarwalla escaped custody a month later, Gambaryan remained and was subsequently charged. 
• Richard Teng, Binance’s CEO, complained that the Nigerian authorities refuse to release Gambaryan in a bid to manipulate the exchange into doing their bidding. 
• Several US lawmakers have also petitioned the US president, Joe Biden, to intervene and secure his release, but their appeals have not yielded much as Gambaryan remains in prison. 
• The ongoing court case has been adjourned till October 11 while the court goes on holiday.