Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan Leaves Nigeria After Charges Dismissed

 

Tigran Gambaryan, the Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, has left Nigeria just days after the federal government dropped money laundering charges against him. The announcement of his departure was made by the cryptocurrency exchange on Thursday, October 24.

In a statement, Binance confirmed, “Today, American citizen Tigran Gambaryan left Nigeria to return home to his family after eight months of unlawful detention. Gambaryan was allowed to leave Kuje prison last night. His health has suffered significantly while in prison, and he will now be able to receive the medical attention he desperately requires.”

Earlier reports indicated that a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the money laundering charges brought against Gambaryan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). During the court session, the EFCC revealed that the case could not proceed due to Gambaryan’s declining health, with officials from the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Office of the National Security Adviser stating that his condition had deteriorated to the point where he could barely walk without a wheelchair.

Reacting to her husband’s release, Yuki Gambaryan expressed her relief in a statement, saying, “It is a huge relief that this day has finally come. The past eight months have been a living nightmare. I wish it hadn’t taken this long for his release or that his health had not declined so much, but we can now focus on healing as a family. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the US government for their efforts in securing his release and to everyone who helped us throughout this ordeal. There were moments I feared this day would never come, but Tigran’s supporters gave me hope and strength.”

The road to recovery for Gambaryan is expected to be challenging, with Yuki emphasizing the need for privacy and time to focus on his health. She added, “Our children cannot wait to see their dad again.”

Gambaryan was detained in February alongside his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, the regional manager for Africa at Binance, and both faced charges related to a $35 million money laundering case initiated by the anti-graft agency. While Anjarwalla managed to secure his release on March 22, Gambaryan was arraigned in court on April 8.