Nigerian Court Denies Health Bail to Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan
A Nigerian court has refused bail for Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan on money laundering and currency manipulation charges. The court denied a bail application on medical grounds, despite arguments by his legal team over his declining health. This case has attracted international attention, particularly with U.S. lawmakers, due to the fact that Gambaryan is an American citizen, and high-profile legal issues are involved concerning cryptocurrency.
Health Concerns Cited by the Defense
Gambaryan’s lawyers, last Friday, Oct. 11, filed a bail application based on critical health problems. According to the lawyer of Gambaryan, Mark Mordi, he has been experiencing a spate of ailments including malaria, pneumonia, tonsillitis, and complications from a herniated disc. The health concerns said to have confined the Binance executive to a wheelchair necessitate surgical intervention. His defense has maintained that the prison medical facilities cannot handle the degree of care he would require.
Mordi informed the court that Gambaryan had been waiting for surgery since mid-July and his condition in detention was deteriorating. The court, while noting how grave his health challenges were, refused to admit him to bail. The court ordered prison officials to ensure Gambaryan gets adequate medical attention and directed that a hospital be made available for his treatment.
Criticism from U.S. Lawmakers and Legal Actions Continue
Gambaryan’s detention has come under criticism from U.S. lawmakers who described conditions of the detention as unjust. In February, Binance’s executive was arrested along with his colleague, British-Kenyan Nadeem Anjarwalla, at Abuja airport. The arrest followed a summons for Binance representatives to travel to Nigeria’s capital where Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were detained. Binance thereafter announced a temporary suspension of naira and peer-to-peer services in Nigeria after the arrest.
Anjarwalla’s Flight to Freedom and Later Arrest
Nadeem Anjarwalla ran from Nigeria in March carrying a secret Kenyan passport. He was arrested later in Kenya with the help of Interpol when Nigeria wrote formally for his arrest. Complications arose with the arrest of Anjarwalla abroad. Gambaryan, however remains in detention pending the court’s decision on his case. Another battle he is fighting is receiving adequate medical attention.
The order passed by the Nigerian court against Gambaryan and his involvement with Binance can be termed a giant leap within the ongoing proceedings of the case.
