Good day everyone,
I hope you are all having a good day, welcome to CryptoGod-1's blog on all things crypto. In this post I will be looking at how Tigran Gambaryan, the Binance executive detained in Nigeria back in early 2024, is a clear showing of the human rights violation going on by having him locked up in Nigeria.
Tigran Gambaryan
The detained Binance head of financial compliance, Tigran Gambaryan, is still being held in Nigeria on charges of money laundering from his time at the exchange. He has seen his bail application deferred by a Nigerian court and it has been reported that the executives health is worsening since he was jailed earlier this year. His next bail hearing is scheduled for the 9th of October after his recent bail application was argued on the 4th of September. His lawyer, Mark Mordi, has cited seven grounds on why the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which dismissed his first bail application, should be set aside by the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
Justice Emeka Nwite had quashed Gambaryan’s first bail application, agreeing with the EFCC that he remained a flight risk in view of the money laundering and foreign exchange contravention charges. These charges have been laid against both Gambaryan and Binance. He was arrested on the 28th of February and his lawyer feels the lower court erred in law by not granting his client bail.
According to his lawyer Gambaryan has required surgery since the 18th of July and requires urgent assistance that cannot currently be provided. While detained in prison he has developed malaria, pneumonia, tonsillitis and complications from a herniated disc in his back and is almost unable to walk. A video emerged last Monday of Tigran limping into court after being refused the assistance of a wheelchair.
Gambaryan's lawyer is seeking bail for his client on 'fair conditions.' The reasons they cite are as follows:
Flight Risk Allegations - He argues the lower court erred in law when it refused to grant the appellant bail and that his client is facing non-capital offences.
Bail Entitlement - He argues the lower court erred when failing to consider his affidavit evidence in totality and to grant the appellant’s release on bail as none of the circumstances in the case justify the refusal of bail.
Escape from Custody - He wants the Court of Appeal to dismiss the EFCC’s contention that Gambaryan planned to escape from custody through “body swap” or a body double taking his place in the prison facility.
Court Reliance on EFCC Deposition - The lower court erred when it refused bail as it relied on the depositions in the counter-affidavit of the EFCC’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, to hold that the appellant would jump bail.
Armenian Citizenship Claim - He argued the lower erred when it agreed that the EFCC stated that Gambaryan was Armenian-born as no sufficient proof was provided to that effect.
Foreign National Entitlement to Bail - He argued that Nigerian law does not differentiate between Nigerians and foreign nationals in matters of bail and that the appropriate action for the Court of Appeal is to impose bail conditions that would ensure Gambaryan faces his trial in Nigeria.
Co-Suspect Escape - Finally, he argued that Gambaryan’s co-suspect, Nadeem Anjarwalla, escaping is not sufficient ground to deny Gambaryan bail and maintained there was no substantial proof that Gambaryan would follow the same path if granted bail.
Gambaryan’s family has raised concerns over his health and urged the EFCC to release him and pursue the case against Binance, and Tigran has himself filed a second bail request on the grounds of his ill health, related to a disk issue following the rejection of his first bail request.
The family said in a shared statement:
“He is no longer able to walk from the pain of his untreated herniated disc or spinal injury. The prison is also refusing to provide him with a wheelchair.”
Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, stated that the prison has withheld her husband’s medical records for months, and the partial records that have been released suggest he requires surgery.
“They cannot keep playing games with my husband’s life like this. This entire situation is inhumane and degrading, and I am fed up. There must be consequences for this disregard of law and human rights.”
United States Congressman French Hill (R-AR) has also called on the Nigerian government to release Tigran Gambaryan following the emergence of the video. Hill posted on 'X' that it is outrageous and Tigran's condition was clearly worsening as he struggled to walk.
Following comments from his lawyer, Judge Emeka Nwite granted Tigran access to a wheelchair. However, it has been previously reported that prison officials have a tendency to disregard court orders and many concerns remain that he may not receive the required medical care. Fears remain over the safety of Tigran and many, many questions have been raised regarding his arrest and treatment in Nigeria. It is a bleak look and shows the disgusting treatment of people in that nation.
Have a great day.
Peace. CryptoGod-1.
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