The minister of information and national orientation for Nigeria, Mohammed Idris, stressed that the Gambaryan government in his own country fully supports him consularly. Claims that Tigran Gambaryan, an executive at Binance, being detained in substandard conditions have been refuted by the Nigerian government. A government minister made the case that he gets full consular services and high-quality medical care, stressing the importance of judicial integrity and lawful trials.
Nigeria’s minister of communication and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, responded to the allegations regarding the status of Gambaryan inmates’ health and subpar jail circumstances in a statement released on June 21The remarks made by Idris follow a recent post by two US Congressmen, Representatives French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan, who visited Gambaryan on June 19, 2024, at the Kuje Detention Centre.
The two demanded his release after sharing a video of their visit on X. Idris stressed in his statement that Gambaryan’s incarceration is based on a court order, and that the court alone has the authority to change the conditions or order his release.
It has become necessary for the Federal Government of Nigeria to address claims that Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan is being held in unsavoury prison conditions in Nigeria or that his health is deteriorating. The minister asserted that Gambaryan can access necessary healthcare services despite being in lawful custody. We want to be clear that these accusations are untrue and ought to be disregarded.
The minister stressed that the government of Gambaryan’s home country provides full consular support. He reaffirmed that while he is being sued in Nigeria, the government will uphold his fundamental rights, which include having access to good medical care and a fair trial: “The Federal Government of Nigeria is determined to pursue Binance’s legal and legitimate pursuit of justice, in accordance with due process, as is being done in numerous other countries across the globe.”
Yuki, the spouse of Gambaryan, has filed an appeal with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) requesting that her husband be freed, citing the Federal Inland Revenue Service’s (FIRS) recent decision to drop charges as precedent.
Lawmakers in the United States supported her, stating that Gambaryan has dedicated his career to combating tax evasion and money laundering. They state that he effectively oversaw financial crime and cybercrime investigations throughout his ten years as a special agent with the US Internal Revenue Service.
Director Abdulkadir Abbas of the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission continued to testify during the June 21 hearing in the EFCC’s case against Binance and Gambaryan. He reiterated that Binance lacked the required registration to conduct business in Nigeria. The case has been adjourned to July 1 for continuation of cross-examination.