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The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) of Nigeria has dropped charges against Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, focusing solely on Binance through its local representative. Tigran Gambaryan will no longer need to appear in court for the FIRS case, establishing Binance as the sole defendant.
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This development clarifies that Tigran and Nadeem were not decision-makers at Binance and should not have been detained or charged initially. However, despite this acknowledgment by FIRS, the charges from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against them remain. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for June 19th, focusing on an application for the enforcement of fundamental rights, followed by the EFCC trial continuation on June 20th. Tigran remains detained at Kuje prison.
Tigran’s health has deteriorated significantly since he collapsed in court on May 23rd with malaria, now suffering from pneumonia. Although Justice Emeka Nwite ordered immediate medical attention, the prison authorities delayed action, and results from a brief check-up are being withheld from his family, lawyers, and the US embassy. Despite repeated requests, the prison has not changed the next of kin designation to someone from Tigran’s family.
On June 4th, 16 US Members of Congress, including Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul, wrote to President Biden, urging action for Tigran’s release, followed by a letter from 108 former federal agents to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on June 6th.
Yuki Gambaryan, Tigran’s wife, expressed relief over the dropped FIRS charges, hoping Nigerian authorities will recognize the unnecessary detention and drop the EFCC charges. She voiced deep concern for Tigran’s worsening health and urged more forceful US government intervention for his immediate release, emphasizing the urgency of reuniting their family.
“My biggest concern at the moment is Tigran’s deteriorating health and the awful conditions he is being kept in. While at Kuje, he has had a serious infection, malaria, and now pneumonia and to make matters worse, we have no access to his medical records.
“Despite the fact that he is clearly an innocent man, he is being treated as a dangerous criminal and his basic human rights are being neglected. We really need the US government to intervene more forcefully for the immediate release of an innocent American citizen. This has gone on too long and Tigran’s life is at risk. My children and I just want him back so our family can be whole again,” Yuki said.
