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The US government is seeking to meet with Tigran Gambaryan, the Binance executive being held at the Kuje detention center in Abuja. According to sources, American officials are pushing for consular access to ensure Gambaryan’s well-being. The Nigerian government has not yet commented on the matter.
In an unexpected development, Gambaryan, Binance’s chief financial crimes compliance officer, was arrested in Nigeria in February 2024, alongside executive Anjarwalla. This move highlights the increasing focus on regulatory compliance in the fintech industry.
The detention of the two executives followed an investigation that allegedly uncovered evidence of Binance’s involvement in money laundering and terrorism financing, prompting further scrutiny of the company’s operations.
The wait for Tigran Gambaryan’s fate to be decided continues, as Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled October 9 to weigh in on the defendant’s fresh bail application, filed by his legal counsel.
As worries about Tigran Gambaryan’s health escalate, Binance CEO Richard Teng has joined the chorus calling for his freedom, pointing to claims of worsening health and insufficient medical care that’s sparking grave concerns.
In a development that has deepened concerns about Tigran Gambaryan’s treatment, his family has alleged that he is being refused access to a wheelchair, a basic necessity that is essential to his well-being and mobility.
In an off-the-record conversation, a senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, who requested anonymity due to not being authorized to speak publicly, informed the press that the US has been zealously monitoring Gambaryan’s health, implying a strong interest in his well-being.
“I only know that the US is concerned about the man’s health, especially now that his family has gone public in the US with the matter.
“I would not say they are lobbying, they are just concerned that they are not being granted access to the man (being a US citizen). Remember that Binance had their issue in the US as well,” the source explained.
Read also: Blord Arrested By Police For Alleged Fraud, Terrorism Links
Weighing in on the matter, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, a respected retired Ambassador, opined that while the US request for consular access was reasonable, it must be balanced against Nigeria’s right to conduct its legal proceedings without external interference or undue influence.
“The US is right in requesting consular access to the detained Binance executive,” he said. “Nigeria does not interfere when Nigerians are arrested for criminal activities in the US. We allow the US legal system to proceed without interference.”
Ambassador Rasheed Akinkuolie, a seasoned diplomat with experience as Consul to Cameroon and Delegate to the World Expo and Economic Development Centre in Paris, highlighted the vital importance of embassies in safeguarding the welfare and rights of their citizens detained in foreign lands.
He stated, “It is the right and function of every embassy to have access to detained nationals in a foreign country, regardless of the offence—be it murder or any other serious crime.
“The embassy needs to be informed to ensure that the individual is not mistreated or unjustly punished.”
Akinkuolie explained that once embassies are involved, they investigate the charges and provide legal support if necessary.
Akinkuolie pointed out that the presence of an embassy can significantly impact the treatment of detainees, regardless of the seriousness of their offense. He observed that when an embassy is engaged, the host country tends to be more circumspect in their handling of the detained individual.
