In this discourse: The United States Congress is urged to acknowledge Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan as a hostage, alleging that Nigeria is coercing Binance. Gambaryan, a former federal agent, was apprehended during confrontational meetings in Nigeria and subsequently transferred to Kuje Prison, where his health has deteriorated.
US Representative Richard McCormick has presented a resolution to the US Congress, seeking the acknowledgment of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who has been detained in Nigeria since February, as a hostage.
McCormick asserts that the Nigerian government is detaining Gambaryan in order to extort Binance. Gambaryan, a former federal agent and Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, journeyed to Nigeria on February 26 regarding compliance issues at Binance.
These interactions escalated, leading to Gambaryan being forcefully taken by armed guards to his lodging, where he was instructed to pack his belongings and surrender his passport.
Subsequently, he was relocated to a state-owned residence and detained for five days without any communication with his family, company, legal representatives, or the US Department of State.
Although the court order for Gambaryan’s detention expired on March 12, he remained in custody without legal justification. By April 5, Gambaryan was accused of tax evasion and money laundering along with Binance, and was transferred to Kuje Prison, notorious for its severe conditions and housing of terrorist suspects.
His health deteriorated significantly, with medical care requests being delayed or denied. Representative McCormick declared:”The Nigerian government has unlawfully detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan in an attempt to extort the cryptocurrency exchange.”
He urged the US government to designate Gambaryan as a hostage and demand Nigeria’s release of him and provision of medical care if the matter remains unresolved by July 15. The resolution highlighted these key points:
Gambaryan is a US citizen, a resident of Georgia, and a former federal agent whom the United States deeply values.He served at the IRS for over a decade, investigating major offenses and confiscating over $4 billion in illicit funds.He journeyed to Nigeria at the government’s invitation for high-level discussions concerning Binance’s compliance matters.
The Department of State released a 2023 report on human rights in Nigeria, citing violations including “inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; and significant issues with the independence of the judiciary.”
Throughout his detainment, Gambaryan has been unable to have confidential discussions with his legal counsel, family, or US embassy personnel. The Nigerian Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, remarked in a telephone interview that “they [Binance] have transgressed the law.”
The Nigerian government has previously acknowledged that Gambaryan is being prosecuted in lieu of legal action against Binance. It stated:”The 1st defendant (Binance) is operating remotely. The only recourse available to us is this defendant (Tigran). Therefore, we beseech, My Lord, to deny bail to the defendant.”
Gambaryan made numerous pleas for medical consultations, which took months to be honored. Upon the visit of a physician, Gambaryan was referred to a specialist instead of receiving treatment.
On May 22, Gambaryan was absent from a court session, and neither the court, prosecutors, nor his defense team were aware of his whereabouts. The prison did not respond to the court’s inquiries, leading to a postponement of his hearing.
On May 23, Gambaryan appeared in court slouched in his seat and collapsed when called to approach. He tested positive for malaria but was unable to receive appropriate medical attention.
Despite a court order for his release from Kuje Prison and admission to a hospital, he was only briefly transferred to a private medical facility on June 4 before being returned to Kuje Prison.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service closed Gambaryan’s case, dropping all tax-related accusations. The court determined that Gambaryan was not a representative of Binance, nullifying all orders necessitating the service of court documents.
As of July, Gambaryan still faces charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. A congressional delegation visited Gambaryan on June 20 to express their concerns and advocate for his liberation.
The subsequent day, Gambaryan’s legal representative informed the court that the Turkish Hospital where Gambaryan was treated declined to release his medical dossier. The judge once again instructed the release of Gambaryan’s medical records.
