Court orders arrest of prison doctor over failure to release Binance executive’s medical report

A federal high court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant against Abraham Ehizojie, a medical doctor at the health facility in Kuje correctional centre, over his failure to produce the medical report of Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance Holdings Ltd.

Gambaryan collapsed in court on May 23, due to “ill-health”.

On May 27, Gambaryan’s legal team raised the alarm that the Binance executive could die in the Kuje prison if his health continued to deteriorate.

Mark Mordi, Gambaryan’s counsel, prayed the court to summon the medical doctor at the Kuje prison to explain why he had allegedly refused to release the defendant’s medical report despite an earlier court order.

On July 5, the judge ordered the management of the prison to release Gambaryan’s medical certificate on or before July 16.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mordi told the court that the order had not been complied with.

Emeke Nwite, the presiding judge, asked a prison official who brought Gambaryan to court about the development.

The prison official told the judge that he delivered the order to the doctor on July 9.

“He is not here, and I expected him to be here,” he added.

Ekene Iheanacho, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) counsel, also told the judge that he expected the doctor to be in court.

As a result, Mordi asked the judge to issue a bench warrant against the medical officer to be brought before the court on the next adjourned date.

The lawyer also asked the court to make an order for Gambaryan to be placed on hospital remand immediately for a thorough medical examination to be carried out on him to know his true state of health.

“My client came in here in a wheelchair. He has been complaining of back pain. We need to be careful of the life in our hands,” Mordi said.

Iheanacho, who did not dispute the fact that the defendant should be given adequate treatment, disagreed that Gambaryan should be placed on hospital remand.

After listening to counsel’s submissions, Nwite said it was unfortunate that a government institution would be treating a court order with levity.

“I hereby make an order of bench warrant on the medical doctor at the Kuje Correctional Service to appear before this court,” he said.

He also ordered that Gambaryan be taken to the Nizamiye Hospital for medical care at any time of his choice, but under full security surveillance.

The judge adjourned the matter until October 11 and 18 for the continuation of the trial.

In April, the EFCC arraigned the cryptocurrency firm and Gambaryan on a five-count charge bordering on money laundering.