The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has challenged the health claims put forward by the family and legal representatives of Tigran Gambaryan, a top executive at Binance who has been detained in Nigeria on money laundering charges.
The EFCC dismissed the severity of Gambaryan’s health issues, which his family asserts have left him unable to walk due to a herniated disc.
During a hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja on 2 September 2024, EFCC’s lead counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, refuted claims that Gambaryan’s health had deteriorated to a level of emergency.
This response came as Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi SAN, sought fresh bail on medical grounds, arguing that his client’s condition necessitates urgent attention.
Gambaryan’s family, in a statement issued on 26 August 2024, alleged that he had been denied adequate medical care while in custody.
According to the family, the lack of proper treatment has resulted in severe pain, muscle atrophy, and the need for blood thinners to prevent clots due to his immobility.
The EFCC, however, argued in court that the condition of Tigran Gambaryan is not as bad as portrayed.
Iheanacho informed Justice Emeka Nwite that the Binance executive has lived with the disc issue for over a decade and that Nigerian authorities have provided him with necessary medical care, including visits to multiple hospitals.
He also pointed out that Gambaryan has been observed walking within the detention facility, contradicting claims that he is bedridden.
This courtroom exchange follows earlier proceedings where the judge was upset about the failure of the Kuje Correctional Centre to submit Gambaryan’s medical report as directed.
The court had even issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the facility’s medical officer, Dr. Abraham Ehizojie, who did not appear to present the report.
Despite the EFCC’s assurances, Gambaryan himself stated in court that the inadequate treatment he received while in detention had worsened his condition, leading to nerve damage. He stated that his current state of health was a direct consequence of the lack of timely and appropriate medical care.
The case has drawn attention from many, particularly as Gambaryan, along with another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, faces allegations of laundering over $35 million in connection with illegal activities in Nigeria.
While the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has dropped its tax evasion case against the executives, the EFCC is continually pursuing money laundering and foreign exchange violation charges.
In a related development, a representative from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) testified that the Binance platform had become a key reference point for determining Nigeria’s exchange rates, stressing the platform’s influence in the financial market.
The legal proceedings have been adjourned to 4 September 2024, as the court continues to dig deeper into the complex and contentious issues surrounding the case.
Meanwhile, Gambaryan’s family continues to urge the Nigerian authorities to release him on humanitarian grounds, while also questioning the conditions of his detention and the fairness of the ongoing trial.
