Nigeria Denies Allegations of Poor Prison Conditions for Binance Executive

Key takeaways:

• The Nigerian government has refuted claims that Tigran Gambaryan, an executive at Binance, is being detained in substandard conditions.
• 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.

The Nigerian government has refuted claims that Tigran Gambaryan, an executive at Binance, is being detained in substandard conditions. A government minister argued that he receives 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 21.

The 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 Center. 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. According to the ministry, even though Gambaryan is in legal custody, they can still obtain the essential healthcare services:

“It has become necessary for the Federal Government of Nigeria to address claims that Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan is being held in unsavory prison conditions in Nigeria or that his health is deteriorating. We would like to state that these allegations are false and should be ignored.”

The minister stressed that Gambaryan’s native government fully supports him consularly. As he faces legal processes in Nigeria, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to defending his fundamental rights, which include access to good healthcare and a fair trial:

“The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to follow due process in its quest to bring Binance to justice — a legitimate sovereign quest that is similarly being pursued in several other countries worldwide.”

Using the Federal Inland Revenue Service’s (FIRS) recent decision to drop charges as precedent, Yuki Gambaryan, her husband’s wife, has appealed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to do the same and free her husband.

She received support from US lawmakers who noted that Gambaryan had dedicated his career to combating tax evasion and money laundering. They claim that he led successful investigations into financial fraud and cybercrime during his ten years as a special agent with the US IRS.

Director Abdulkadir Abbas of the Nigerian SEC 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. In this case, the cross-examination has been postponed until July 1.