The trial of Tigran Gambaryan, an official from Binance currently held in custody in Nigeria, resumed on September 2, 2024. His legal team has tabled a fresh plea for bail, highlighting their client’s degrading health as a substantial concern.
However, attorneys for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Nigeria (EFCC) counter-argued against the plea, suggesting that Gambaryan is in good health. The disagreement arose despite the legal team for the government regulator having submitted Gambaryan’s health records that stipulate the requirement for surgical intervention.
Gambaryan’s family spokespersons revealed that these medical records did not include crucial documentation, such as MRI scans, and added that prison officials had consistently been unsuccessful in submitting these missing records to the court. They further claimed that Gambaryan’s legal representation had been denied entry to the prison on multiple occasions.
In a statement shared with Cointelegraph, Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, expressed her concerns over recent comments made by Nigerian officials denying the health concerns of her husband, Tigran. The next court hearing is scheduled for September 4, 2024, when deliberations about the bail plea will continue.
Gambaryan’s deteriorating health status and the alleged negligence by Nigerian prison officials have been extensively recorded. In July, the court released an arrest warrant for Dr. Abraham Ehizojie, a physician at the Kuje Correctional Centre, for failing to deliver a comprehensive medical report on Gambaryan’s condition.
Gambaryan’s deteriorating health and his continued detainment have been criticized widely by industry veterans, humanitarian organizations, and U.S. lawmakers. Congressman Rich McCormick of Georgia has called for legislative intervention, presenting a resolution that suggests considering Gambaryan’s detainment as a hostage situation and urged the Congress to utilize all available resources to secure his release.