TLDR
- A Nigerian court has issued an arrest warrant for a prison doctor who failed to produce medical reports for detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan.
- Gambaryan appeared in court in a wheelchair, complaining of back pain and deteriorating health.
- The judge ordered Gambaryan to be taken to a hospital for a 24-hour medical checkup under security.
- Gambaryan has been detained since February on charges of money laundering and forex manipulation.
- U.S. Congressmen have intervened, urging for Gambaryan to be considered a wrongfully detained hostage.
A Nigerian court has escalated the ongoing legal drama surrounding detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan by issuing an arrest warrant for a prison doctor.
The warrant, issued by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, targets Dr. Abraham Ehizojie of the Kuje Correctional Centre for failing to produce Gambaryan’s medical reports or appear in court as previously ordered.
The case has drawn international attention, with Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, having been held in Nigerian custody since February.
He faces charges alongside the cryptocurrency exchange for alleged money laundering and foreign exchange manipulation involving $35.4 million.
The court proceedings took a dramatic turn when Gambaryan appeared in a wheelchair, visibly in distress.
His lawyer, Mark Mordi, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating,
“My client came in here in a wheelchair. He has been complaining of back pain. We need to be careful of the life in our hands.”
This development underscores growing concerns about Gambaryan’s health while in detention.
Justice Nwite, expressing frustration at the disregard for court orders, not only issued the bench warrant for Dr. Ehizojie but also ordered Gambaryan to be taken to Nizamiye Hospital for a 24-hour medical checkup under full security. The case has been adjourned to October 11 for continuation.
The health concerns surrounding Gambaryan have escalated beyond Nigeria’s borders. Two U.S. Congressmen, Rep. French Hill (R-AR) and Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), have intervened, submitting a resolution to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
They urge the U.S. government to consider Gambaryan a wrongfully detained hostage, with Rep. Hill reporting that the executive’s health is “deteriorating” in custody.
Gambaryan’s family has been vocal about his condition. His wife, Yuki, released a statement expressing deep concern:
“I am heartbroken to see my once fit and healthy husband reduced to such a condition. This ordeal has taken a severe toll on him, leaving him in so much pain that he can hardly walk.”
She pleaded with Nigerian authorities to release her husband on humanitarian grounds.
The case against Gambaryan and Binance is part of a larger crackdown by Nigerian authorities on cryptocurrency exchanges.
The government accuses Binance and its executives of conspiring to conceal the origins of substantial financial proceeds from alleged unlawful activities in Nigeria. Additionally, Binance faces a separate suit from the Federal Inland Revenue Service for tax evasion.
This situation has put a spotlight on the challenges faced by international cryptocurrency executives operating in markets with evolving regulatory landscapes.
Binance CEO Richard Teng has publicly demanded Gambaryan’s release, arguing that the executive is being held in
“a dangerous prison in order to control Binance.”
The case has also raised questions about the treatment of foreign nationals in Nigeria’s legal system.
The U.S. Representatives’ resolution accuses Nigeria of trying Gambaryan “in lieu of pursuing legal action against his employer,” suggesting that the executive may be caught in a larger dispute between Nigerian authorities and Binance.
