The
US
House
of
Representatives
introduced
a
resolution
urging
Nigeria
to
release
Tigran
Gambaryan,
a
former
federal
agent
and
Binance
employee
who
has
been
detained
in
the
country
since
February.
Representatives
Rich
McCormick
and
French
Hill
submitted
the
resolution
on
July
11. The
document
emphasizes
Gambaryan’s
service
as
a
federal
agent
and
his
role
in
recovering
over
$4
billion
in
illicit
funds.
At
the
time
of
his
detention,
Gambaryan
was
serving
as
Binance
Holdings
Limited’s
Head
of
Financial
Crime
Compliance.
Hostile
meetings
Gambaryan
traveled
to
Nigeria
on
Feb.
26
for
high-level
meetings
regarding
Binance’s
compliance
issues
amid
the
country’s
challenges
with
increased
adoption
of
crypto
via
peer-to-peer
markets,
which
indirectly
caused
a
steep
devaluation
in
the
naira.
According
to
the
resolution,
the
meetings
became
hostile,
leading
to
Gambaryan’s
detention
without
due
process.
Nigerian
authorities
held
Gambaryan
in
a
government-owned
house
for
five
days,
preventing
him
from
contacting
his
family,
company,
attorneys,
or
the
US
Department
of
State.
Despite
a
court
order
limiting
his
detention
to
14
days,
Nigerian
officials
continued
to
hold
him
without
legal
basis
from
March
12
to
April
5,
at
which
point
authorities
charged
Gambaryan
with
charges
including
tax
evasion
and
money
laundering.
Gambaryan
was
subsequently
transferred
to
Kuje
Prison,
known
for
its
harsh
conditions
and
housing
members
of
Boko
Haram.
The
Department
of
State’s
2023
human
rights
report
documented
significant
abuses
in
Nigerian
prisons,
raising
concerns
about
Gambaryan’s
treatment.
Wrongful
detention
The
resolution
claims
Nigeria
is
wrongfully
detaining
Gambaryan
to
“extort
Binance,”
citing
statements
from
Nigerian
Information
Minister
Mohammed
Idris.
It
adds
that
efforts
to
secure
Gambaryan’s
release
have
faced
numerous
obstacles,
including
intentionally
delayed
proceedings
and
denial
of
bail
requests. During
his
detention,
officials
have
not
allowed
him
to
speak
privately
with
his
attorneys
or
family.
According
to
the
document,
a
congressional
delegation
visited
Gambaryan
on
June
20
and
expressed
extreme
concern
over
his
condition.
The
resolution
further
details
that
Gambaryan’s
health
has
deteriorated
due
to
inadequate
medical
care.
He
tested
positive
for
malaria
and
collapsed
in
court
on
May
23,
yet
authorities
delayed
his
hospital
treatment.
Although
a
judge
ordered
his
hospitalization,
officials
returned
him
to
prison
after
a
brief
visit.
The
resolution
calls
on
the
US
government
to
take
immediate
action
to
secure
Gambaryan’s
release,
recognize
his
wrongful
detention,
and
ensure
he
receives
full
consular
and
medical
access
while
in
detention.
The
House
resolution
demands
Nigeria
uphold
due
process
and
human
rights
for
Gambaryan
and
all
political
prisoners
and
expresses
solidarity
with
his
family
during
this
challenging
time.
Mentioned
in
this
article
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Author: Assad Jafri
