Nigeria’s federal government firmly denied allegations on Friday that Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan is being held in unsavory prison conditions or that his health is deteriorating.
This statement follows calls from two U.S. lawmakers urging Nigeria’s embassy to seek Gambaryan’s release on humanitarian grounds, citing his ‘poor health’.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris refuted these claims, emphasizing that Gambaryan, who is facing trial for tax evasion and money laundering, is in lawful detention and has access to quality medical care as needed.
"Gambaryan receives full consular services from the U.S. government," Idris stated. "The federal government respects his fundamental rights, including access to healthcare during his trial."
Idris clarified that Gambaryan’s detention is court-ordered, and any changes to his status would require judicial approval. He reassured that Nigeria remains committed to upholding justice and maintaining the integrity of its judicial processes, asserting that Gambaryan’s legal and human rights are protected.
Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and head of financial crimes compliance at Binance, has been in custody since February on money laundering charges. U.S. Representatives French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan visited Gambaryan in Abuja’s Kuje prison, describing his conditions as difficult and his health as poor.
“We’ve urged our embassy to advocate for Gambaryan’s humanitarian release due to the prison conditions, his health, and his innocence,” Hill said in a video posted on social media.
Despite these concerns, Idris assured that the Nigerian government continues to adhere to due process, with Gambaryan’s trial set to resume on July 1.
The situation is part of a broader legal challenge for Binance, with its founder Changpeng Zhao recently sentenced to four months in a U.S. prison for regulatory failures.
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