U.S. diplomats have been pressing Nigerian officials since June 2024 for the release of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, whose detention has strained U.S.-Nigeria diplomatic relations, according to The New York Times. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills have been vocal in their efforts, with Ambassador Mills meeting Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet in September 2024 to push for Gambaryan’s freedom.
Nigeria’s Attorney General insists that Gambaryan will only be released after his trial, raising concerns among U.S. officials.
Gambaryan’s legal team has called on the U.S. State Department to designate him as “wrongfully detained,” a classification that would amplify political pressure on Nigeria.
This call is backed by U.S. lawmakers, including Rep. Rich McCormick, who has introduced a resolution urging the U.S. government to label the detention as a “hostage” situation. McCormick accuses Nigerian authorities of using Gambaryan’s detention to extort Binance for financial gain.
The humanitarian dimension of the case has also been emphasized by U.S. diplomats, who cite Gambaryan’s declining health. He suffers from conditions including a herniated disc, pneumonia, malaria, and throat infections, according to his legal team, which recently filed a bail motion citing his need for medical care.
Nigerian prison officials have faced scrutiny for failing to provide adequate healthcare, with an arrest warrant issued for a prison doctor who neglected Gambaryan’s medical needs.
Gambaryan, a former IRS agent and U.S. citizen, was arrested in February 2024 along with Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s Africa regional manager, on charges of money laundering and tax evasion. While the tax evasion charges against Gambaryan were dropped, he remains detained on other allegations.
His continued detention has sparked fears about his health and prompted calls for urgent intervention from U.S. lawmakers.
