The wife of Tigran Gambaryan, a detained executive of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, has accused Nigerian authorities of endangering her husband’s life amid ongoing health concerns.
Her remarks came after recent court proceedings related to a high-profile money laundering case involving Binance and its executives.
On Monday, Gambaryan’s wife expressed deep frustration with the Nigerian justice system, highlighting severe delays and issues regarding her husband’s medical treatment.
In a statement, she accused the Nigerian authorities of deliberately neglecting her husband’s health.
“The prison has withheld his medical records for months, and even the partial records they finally released today say that Tigran needs surgery,” she said.
“They cannot keep playing games with my husband’s life like this. This entire situation is inhumane and degrading, and I am fed up. There must be consequences for this disregard of law and human rights.”
Gambaryan has been in detention for six months, and his family claims he is suffering from a severe herniated disc that has left him bed-bound and in excruciating pain.
The family has criticized the Nigerian authorities for failing to provide adequate medical care.
They allege that Gambaryan has been denied proper treatment, which has worsened his condition.
“In detention, he has been denied access to appropriate medical care and is now in so much pain from a herniated disc in his back that he can no longer walk,” the family said.
“He is taking blood thinners to avoid blood clots, and the prison doctor has reported that his muscles have atrophied.”
On August 26, 2024, Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi SAN, filed a new bail application, citing the deteriorating health of his client.
The application came after Justice Emeka Nwite issued a bench warrant for a medical doctor at the Kuje Correctional Centre, who failed to provide Gambaryan’s medical report or appear in court.
During the proceedings, there was a dispute regarding Gambaryan’s use of a wheelchair.
The Binance legal team argued that Gambaryan’s health was failing, while the opposing side, represented by Ekene Iheanacho, contended that Gambaryan’s condition was not as severe as claimed.
Iheanacho argued that Gambaryan had lived with his disc condition for 12 years and that it was not a new issue.
Justice Nwite adjourned the case to September 11, 2024, and directed prison officials to ensure Gambaryan was provided with a wheelchair and used it as necessary.
The legal troubles began on February 28, 2024, when the Federal Government detained Tigran Gambaryan, 39, an American and head of financial crime compliance at Binance, along with Nadeem Anjarwalla, a 37-year-old British-Kenyan regional manager for Africa.
They were detained as part of an investigation into money laundering and foreign exchange violations.
The government accused Binance and its executives of conspiring to conceal the origins of financial proceeds from alleged unlawful activities in Nigeria, including a significant amount of $35,400,000.
The case has been further complicated by a tax evasion suit from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and a money laundering and foreign exchange violations suit from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
