EFCC disputes health claims of detained Binance executive

• Published On: 02 September 2024 at 20:05

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has dismissed health concerns raised by the family and legal team of Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive facing money laundering charges in Nigeria.

On September 2, 2024, in the Federal High Court in Abuja, EFCC lead counsel Ekene Iheanacho informed Justice Emeka Nwite that Gambaryan's reported health issues were "not as serious" as his family had claimed. This statement came in response to a new bail application filed by Gambaryan's lawyer, Mark Mordi SAN, who asked for his release to address alleged health issues.

The controversy began on August 26, 2024, when Gambaryan's family reported that the executive, who had been detained for six months, was in severe pain due to a herniated disc and had been denied proper medical care. They claimed that his condition had rendered him unable to walk, necessitating blood thinners to prevent blood clots and causing muscle atrophy.

The Nigerian government charges Gambaryan and another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, with conspiring to conceal $35.4 million in illicit financial proceeds.

Previously, on July 30, 2024, Justice Nwite issued a bench warrant for Abraham Ehizojie, a medical doctor at the Kuje Correctional Centre, for failing to provide Gambaryan's medical report and appear in court. The judge had previously ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service to produce this report, warning of the consequences for noncompliance.

At the most recent court hearing, Gambaryan's lawyer argued for bail based on his client's deteriorating health, emphasising the urgency due to the lack of a medical report. Iheanacho countered by presenting medical records indicating that Gambaryan's condition was not as severe as portrayed. He claimed that the prison authorities had provided adequate care, including hospital visits, and mentioned that Gambaryan was reportedly walking around the facility.

Gambaryan acknowledged his long-term condition, but claimed that inadequate treatment had resulted in permanent nerve damage.

Justice Nwite has postponed the case until September 4, 2024. Meanwhile, a Securities and Exchange Commission director informed the court that Binance's platform influences Nigeria's exchange rate.

Binance and its executives are also being sued separately by the Federal Inland Revenue Service for tax evasion, though the FIRS has dropped its case against them. Furthermore, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla have filed a fundamental rights lawsuit against Nigerian authorities, alleging violations of their constitutional rights.

Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were detained on February 28, 2024. While the family continues to advocate for his release, the EFCC maintains that he has received proper care.