US Congress to treat Binance’s Gambaryan as a hostage in Nigeria

US Representative Richard McCormick has introduced a resolution to the US Congress. This resolution asks for the recognition of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who has been detained in Nigeria since February, as a hostage.

McCormick claims that the Nigerian government is holding Gambaryan to extort Binance. Gambaryan, a former federal agent and Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, traveled to Nigeria on February 26 over Binance’s compliance issues. 

These meetings became hostile, and Gambaryan was forcibly taken by armed guards to his hotel room, where he was made to pack his belongings and surrender his passport. 

Source: Richard McCormick

He was then moved to a government-owned house and held for five days without any contact with his family, company, attorneys, or the US Department of State.

On March 12, the court order for Gambaryan’s detention expired, but he remained in custody without any legal basis. By April 5, Gambaryan was charged with tax evasion and money laundering alongside Binance and was transferred to Kuje Prison, known for its harsh conditions and terrorist detainees. 

His health has declined significantly, with delayed or denied medical care requests. Rep. McCormick stated: 

“The government of Nigeria has wrongfully detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan in order to extort the cryptocurrency exchange.” 

He urged the US government to declare Gambaryan a hostage and demand Nigeria release him and provide medical care if the case is not resolved by July 15. The resolution made these key points:

• Gambaryan is a US citizen, a Georgia resident, and a former federal agent who America cares deeply about.
• He worked for the IRS for over ten years, investigating major crimes and seizing over $4 billion in illicit funds.
• He traveled to Nigeria at the government’s invitation for high-level meetings about Binance’s compliance issues.

The Department of State released a 2023 report on human rights in Nigeria, with abuses including “inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; and serious problems with the independence of the judiciary.”

During his detention, Gambaryan has been unable to communicate privately with his attorneys, family, or US embassy staff. The Nigerian Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, stated in a phone interview that “they [Binance] have committed a crime.” 

The Nigerian government has openly admitted before that Gambaryan is being tried in place of legal action against Binance. It said:

“The 1st defendant (Binance) is operating virtually. The only thing we have to hold on to is this defendant (Tigran). So, we pray, My Lord, to refuse bail to the defendant.”

Gambaryan made several requests for doctor visits, which took months to be fulfilled. When a doctor did visit, Gambaryan was referred to a specialist instead of being treated. 

On May 22, Gambaryan was absent from a court hearing, and neither the court, prosecutors, nor his defense team knew his whereabouts. The court received no response from the prison, forcing a postponement of his hearing.

On May 23, Gambaryan appeared in court slumped over in his chair and collapsed when called to step forward. He tested positive for malaria but has been unable to receive proper treatment. 

Tigran Gambaryan in court. Credits: Pulse Nigeria

Despite a court order for his release from Kuje Prison and admission to a hospital, he was only transferred to a private hospital for five hours on June 4, before being returned to Kuje Prison. 

The Federal Inland Revenue Service closed Gambaryan’s case, dropping all tax-related charges. The court determined that Gambaryan was not a representative of Binance, nullifying all orders requiring service of court processes. 

As of July, Gambaryan remains subject to charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. A congressional delegation visited Gambaryan on June 20, to show their concern and advocate for his release. 

The very next day, Gambaryan’s lawyer informed the court that the Turkish Hospital where Gambaryan was treated refused to release his medical report. The judge again directed the release of Gambaryan’s medical record.

Reporting by Jai Hamid