‘He needs specialised surgery’ — wife of detained Binance executive begs FG for his release

Yuki Gambaryan, wife of Tigran, the detained Binance executive in Nigeria, has asked the federal government to release her husband before “it is too late”.

In a statement on Monday, Yuki said her husband’s health is getting worse and needs “highly specialised and risky surgery” to treat the herniated disc in Tigran’s back.

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

On May 27, Gambaryan’s legal team raised alarm that the Binance executive could die in 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 July 16, Mordi told the court that the order had not been complied with.

Emeke Nwite, the presiding judge, ordered that Tigran be taken to the Nizamiye Hospital for medical care at any time of his choice, but under full security surveillance.

‘LEGAL TEAM BLOCKED FROM MEETING TIGRAN’ | ‘HE NEEDS SPECIALISED SURGERY’

Speaking on her husband’s condition in the statement, Yuki said since July 26, her husband’s legal team has been blocked from entering Kuje prison to meet with him.

This, she said, is against both the Nigerian constitution and section 45 of the Nigerian prisons regulations which state that “all prisoners, other than prisoners under sentence, shall be allowed all reasonable opportunities daily of communicating with their friends or legal adviser, and they may write and receive letters.”

Yuki also said Tigran has had so many throat infections as well as pneumonia at Kuje and now requires further surgery to remove his tonsils.

The Binance executive’s wife added that despite his health being in such “a concerning condition, the prison continues to hold his medical records”.

“My husband Tigran left our home for a work trip almost six months ago, and I have no idea when he will be back. Now his health is in a shockingly bad condition and getting worse by the day,” she said.

“The herniated disc in his back has worsened to the point where it might leave permanent damage and affect his ability to walk.

“My once fit and healthy husband, who loves working out, is now wheelchair-bound due to a treatable condition that has not been properly addressed.

“He needs highly specialized and risky surgery, it is terrifying. Additionally, an ENT doctor examined him last week and determined he also needs surgery to remove his tonsils due to the recurring infections he is suffering in detention.

“I recently found our five-year-old on the floor of our living room. ‘I miss my daddy’ was all he said. He cannot understand why his father has been gone for so long. I had no idea how to comfort him. It was simply devastating. 

“Our ten-year-old daughter is trying her best to be strong in this traumatic situation we find ourselves in. Her resilience makes me proud and sad at the same time because this is not anything a child should endure.

“Life is becoming harder and harder every day for all of us because of Tigran’s absence.

“I am begging the Nigerian government to please release him so that he can come home and receive the medical treatment he urgently needs before it is too late.”

Tigran’s case was adjourned to October 11 and 18 for the continuation of the trial.