US Lawmakers Push for ‘Humanitarian Release’ of Binance Exec in Nigeria

During the visit to Kuje Prison in Nigeria by the members of Congress Chrissy Houlahan and French Hill, the situation of the detained American Tigran Gambaryan was shown.

The charges of tax evasion were dropped, yet Gambaryan stays behind bars for the charge of money laundering and is in a very poor health condition having contracted malaria and double pneumonia.

Lawmakers Advocate for Binance Exec Release

Yesterday, members of the US Congress Chrissy Houlahan and French Hill met Tigran Gambaryan in Kuje Prison in Nigeria. Gambaryan who has been detained for the past three months has complained of poor health and has lost a lot of weight due to neglect in the provision of medical attention.

Houlahan and Hill have called for Gambaryan’s immediate humanitarian release, given the poor prison conditions and his health state.

In the recent statement, Rep. Hill stressed the importance of the prompt action, focusing on the fact that Gambaryan struggled against financial crimes and cooperated with Nigerian authorities. The lawmakers’ visit came after 18 US Congress members wrote a joint letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging them to intervene for the release of Gambaryan.

Charges and Diplomatic Efforts

Gambaryan used to be an IRS Special Agent and served for a decade in the cyber and financial crimes investigation units, and Binance had employed him as a compliance officer when he was arrested.

Despite the Nigerian Federal Inland Revenue Service withdrawing the tax fraud charges against him on June 14, he remains in custody for money laundering charges, which he cannot be granted bail as he is deemed to flee the country.

Many former federal prosecutors and agents have joined the call for Gambaryan’s release and have written to Secretary Blinken to that effect. The ongoing diplomatic efforts are an indication of the existing tension between the US and Nigeria over this case.

Health Concerns and Prison Conditions

On a visit of the Members of Congress Houlahan and Hill to the Kuje Prison, they discovered that Gambaryan had malaria and double pneumonia. His poor health condition has also raised questions on the situation in which he is confined.

Binance has stood its ground and asserted that Gambaryan, who was instrumental in the compliance and investigation departments of Binance, is not a key decision maker at the company. The cryptocurrency exchange has not stopped the process of negotiating with the Nigerian authorities regarding the current legal problems. The following trial session of Gambaryan’s case is set for the 9th of July 2024.

Moreover, Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki Gambaryan, has criticized the US government for its delayed response, urging more decisive action to secure her husband’s release.

Read Also: Nigeria Dismissed Tax Evasion Charges Against Binance Executives