Distressed Binance Executive Pleads for Help in Courtroom Drama

Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive detained in Nigeria since February, was seen in distress in new court footage, pleading for help from a prison guard as he struggled to walk into an Abuja courtroom. The footage has sparked outrage and calls for his release on medical grounds.

Key Takeaways

• Tigran Gambaryan, detained since February, appeared in court visibly distressed and in pain.

• Gambaryan's request for a wheelchair was denied by prison authorities.

• His lawyers have filed a new bail application on medical grounds.

• The U.S. government has yet to make a public statement on his situation.

Courtroom Drama Unfolds

In a video uploaded to social media, Tigran Gambaryan, the Binance executive detained in Nigeria, is seen limping into an Abuja courtroom. He clutched a prison guard's wrist for support, visibly struggling to walk after his request for a wheelchair was denied. The guard, following instructions, refused to assist him further, leaving Gambaryan to lean on a single crutch.

“I’m not okay, this is messed up,” Gambaryan said in the video. “Why couldn’t I use a wheelchair? This is a show. I’m an innocent person. Why are you doing this to me?”

Medical Bail Application

Gambaryan’s lawyers have filed a new application for bail on medical grounds, urging the judge to release him so he can receive medical care. According to his family, Gambaryan has developed several health conditions in prison, including malaria, pneumonia, tonsillitis, and complications from a herniated disc in his back, which have left him in severe pain and nearly unable to walk.

A prosecutor for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting Gambaryan for money laundering, opposed the bail application, arguing that Gambaryan was not in ill health and claiming he was refusing treatment. Gambaryan’s previous bail application was denied in May.

Denied Medical Care and Legal Access

Authorities at Kuje prison, where Gambaryan has been held since March, have previously refused to turn over his health records. However, some records were given to the court during the bail hearing. These records indicate a need for immediate surgery, but key elements, including an MRI scan, were missing.

In addition to being denied adequate medical care, Gambaryan has also been denied proper access to his lawyers and U.S. embassy staff, according to a family spokesperson.

“This situation is entirely unjust,” said Yuki, Gambaryan’s wife. “The U.S. Government must do more to help Tigran. This entire situation is inhumane and degrading, and I am fed up. There must be consequences for this disregard of law and human rights.”

Scapegoat for Binance?

Gambaryan, a former U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent and Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, was detained in Abuja seven months ago after voluntarily traveling to Nigeria at the government’s invitation. Initially placed under house arrest, Gambaryan was transferred to Kuje prison after his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, escaped under mysterious circumstances.

Charged with tax evasion and money laundering, Gambaryan has pleaded not guilty. The tax evasion charges were later dropped, but the money laundering trial has been ongoing since June. Nigerian officials have accused Binance, without evidence, of tanking the value of the national currency, the naira.

So far, the U.S. government has failed to make any public statement about Gambaryan’s situation. The State Department acknowledged reports of his detention but did not mention him by name.

Sources

• ‘Why Are You Doing This To Me?’: Detained Binance Exec Begs Prison Guard for Help in New Court Footage, CoinDesk.

• ¿Por qué me hacéis esto?": El ejecutivo de Binance detenido pide ayuda a un guardia de prisiones en una nueva grabación judicial, CoinDesk.

• ‘Por que você está fazendo isso comigo?’: Executivo da Binance detido implora ajuda ao guarda da prisão em novas imagens do tribunal, CoinDesk.

• « Pourquoi me faites-vous ça ? » : Un dirigeant de Binance détenu supplie le gardien de prison de l’aider dans une nouvelle vidéo du tribunal, CoinDesk.

• «Зачем вы так со мной поступаете?»: задержанный руководитель Binance умоляет тюремную охрану о помощи на новых кадрах из суда, CoinDesk.