‘Money laundering’ trial of Binance executive to resume Sept 2

The federal high court sitting in Abuja has set September 2 as the new resumption date for the trial involving Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance.

This decision comes after Gambaryan’s legal team requested an earlier trial date, initially scheduled for October 11.

In April, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Binance Holdings Limited, a cryptocurrency firm, and Gambaryan, over allegations bordering on money laundering.

On June 14, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) dropped its tax charges against Gambaryan.

According to a statement by Gambaryan’s family on Monday, “today makes it 6 months since Tigran was detained by the Nigerian authorities”.

On February 28, Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, were detained by the Nigerian authorities.

Anjarwalla, however, escaped from the custody of the office of the national security adviser (ONSA).

Ahead of the court appearance next month, the family said from “July 26th to August 14th, Tigran’s lawyers were not allowed to enter the prison to visit him and prepare for his trial”.

“They were allowed a brief 5-minute visit on August 15 and have since been blocked from entering again. His legal team are therefore unable to prepare him for trial which goes against the Nigerian constitution,” the family said.

“The US Embassy also no longer has access to Tigran as he is not allowed to use a wheelchair and he cannot physically walk to the visitor area.

“The court went into recess on July 16th. An application was made to have the case heard during the recess and was approved so the next hearing date is now set for September 2nd.

“Tigran has missed countless milestones whilst in detention including his son’s 5th birthday and first day of school; his own 40th birthday which he spent locked up in a Nigerian prison cell.

“He is also about to miss his wife’s birthday on August 31st as well as their 15th wedding anniversary.”

‘OUR LIVING NIGHTMARE HAS BEEN FILLED WITH PLEAS’

In the statement, Yuki Gambaryan, wife of Tigran, also said for the past six months their “living nightmare has been filled with pleas”.

“It has been 6 months since I last hugged my husband and since our children last held their father’s hand,” she said.

“Tigran Gambaryan, my husband, a former US federal agent, has now been detained in a Nigerian prison for half a year.

“His health is deteriorating to the point where he can no longer walk and he is being inhumanely denied the use of a wheelchair.

“Between bouts of malaria, pneumonia, and the incredible mental toll of his detention, Tigran, who is usually so strong, is reaching a breaking point. He needs immediate medical treatment and risks permanent damage.

“For 6 months, our living nightmare has been filled with pleas. Pleas to the U.S. government, pleas to the Nigerian government, pleas to the media, pleas to anyone who will listen.

“I am pleading for their mercy, for their understanding, for their humanity.”

Yuki said her husband is innocent and needs to be released before it is too late and the damage done to him is irreversible.

On August 12, she asked the federal government to release her husband before “it is too late”.

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.