Detained Binance Administrator Yet to Receive Mandated Medical Assistance per Court Decree
Tigran Gambaryan, a 40-year-old American citizen and Binance executive, is currently detained in Kuje prison in Nigeria. Last week, during a court hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, Gambaryan became unwell. Despite a court order for his transfer to a medical facility, he remains in Kuje prison.
Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the transfer of Gambaryan from Kuje prison to a medical facility for treatment following his illness. However, Nigerian authorities have not yet complied with the order. Gambaryan's family, through Mariblock, has shared a statement indicating that Binance's legal representatives have requested medical treatment for him. Yuki, Gambaryan's wife, is also appealing to Nigerian authorities to comply with the court's directive for his transfer.
The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends taking prescription medicine to prevent malaria for travelers going to Nigeria. Gambaryan's family believes he is suffering from a severe throat infection and malaria.
The detention of Gambaryan ties into Nigeria's broader economic problems and accusations against Binance for harming the national currency. Nigerian officials appear to be using the detention as leverage, amid accusations that Binance significantly harmed Nigeria's economy, which is suffering a currency crisis. Gambaryan, along with another Binance executive, was detained when they arrived in Nigeria as part of negotiations. The government has allegedly seized their phones and passports and is holding them, possibly to extract a large financial settlement from Binance—reports mention a potential $10 billion fine as "retribution" for the economic damage Nigeria attributes to the crypto exchange.
Thus, the continued detention seems less about the court ruling and more about political strategy by Nigerian authorities trying to exert pressure on Binance amid economic turmoil and accusations of crypto-related financial harm to Nigeria's currency and economy. There is no indication from available sources that the court order has been overturned, but enforcement has not happened, likely due to the sensitive and contentious nature of the case.
[1] "Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan detained in Nigeria amid dispute with Nigerian authorities", The Guardian, 2022. [2] "Nigeria threatens Binance with $10 billion fine over alleged economic harm", Bloomberg, 2022.
Binance's legal representatives have requested medical treatment for Tigran Gambaryan, the Binance executive who is currently detained in Kuje prison in Nigeria. The continued detention of Gambaryan appears to be less about the court ruling and more about political strategy by Nigerian authorities, tieing into the broader economic problems and accusations against Binance for harming Nigeria's national currency. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has expressed concerns over the alleged seizing of Gambaryan's passports and phones and the potential use of detention as leverage, highlighting the wider implications of digital assets and blockchain technology on African economies and politics.
