The Federal Government has dismissed allegations that Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan is being held in poor prison conditions or battling deteriorating health.
In a statement on Friday, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, confirmed that Gambaryan was in a lawful detention, but still has access to quality medical care and consular services from his home government.
“Gambaryan is being held in lawful detention and has access to quality medical care whenever required. He also has full access to consular services from his home government,” the minister said.
Gambaryan’s detention and health conditions have garnered international attention, with US lawmakers urging President Joe Biden to secure his release.
They claim Gambaryan’s detention conditions have been severe and his health has significantly deteriorated.
“He tested positive for malaria, and when he requested hospital treatment, the prison officials declined his request,” they told President Biden in a letter this month.
However, the Federal Government assured that Gambaryan’s fundamental rights are being upheld and that his detention is court-ordered.
The minister reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to following due process in its quest to bring Binance to justice, aligning with international standards, and maintaining the integrity of its judicial processes.
“The Federal Government will not do anything to jeopardize his fundamental rights to a lawful trial and to quality care, including healthcare, even as he undergoes trial under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is worth reiterating that his detention is a court-ordered one, and only the court can alter the terms or direct his release,” part of the statement read.
The government assured Gambaryan that he was being treated fairly and that his legal and human rights were being protected throughout the judicial proceedings.
“This adherence to legal and diplomatic standards underscores Nigeria’s dedication to upholding justice and maintaining the integrity of its judicial processes.
“The executive is being treated with the utmost fairness, and his legal and human rights are being protected throughout the judicial proceedings,” the minister added.
Gambaryan collapsed in court on May 23, prompting a judge to order his transfer to a private hospital.
On Friday, two US Members of Congress, Representative French Hill and Representative Chrissy Houlahan, made an appeal for a “humanitarian release” after visiting detained Binance employee Tigran Gambaryan at the Kuje Detention Facility.
The lawmakers posted a video on social media calling for his immediate release.
Representative Hill shared details of the visit on his X account, stating, “@RepHoulahan and I visited with US citizen Tigran Gambaryan in Kuje Prison in Nigeria.
“We found him suffering from the conditions there, as he has malaria and double pneumonia, and he reports that he has lost significant weight. Even worse, he’s being denied access to adequate medical attention,” the lawmaker stated.
On February 28, 2024, Nigerian authorities detained Gambaryan and the fleeing Nadeem Anjarwalla when they arrived in Nigeria for a meeting following the Federal Government’s ban on cryptocurrency channels, part of a broader campaign against currency speculation.
Last week, the Federal High Court in Abuja cleared Gambaryan and fugitive Nadeem Anjarwalla of tax evasion charges filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
The court’s decision came after the FIRS submitted amended charges that effectively dropped the tax evasion allegations against Gambaryan and his colleague, who absconded to Kenya.
