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U.S. Lawmakers Push for Release of Binance Executive Held in Nigeria

Harshajit Sarmah
Harshajit Sarmah·Jul 12, 2024·2 min read
Tigran Gambaryan, Binance executive held in Nigeria, with U.S. lawmakers urging his release

U.S. congressmen Rich McCormick and French Hill have submitted a resolution titled “Urging the Government of Nigeria to immediately release Tigran Gambaryan from imprisonment” to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, urging the government to declare the detention of a Binance executive in Nigeria as a hostage situation.

Source: Screenshot from Congress.gov
“After visiting recently with Tigran at Kuje Prison in Nigeria, I noted that his health is deteriorating. I am proud to join my friend and Mr. Gambaryan’s Congressman, Rep. Rich McCormick, in leading this resolution and sending a signal to the Nigerian government that he must be immediately granted a release, the remaining charges dropped, and return home to America where he belongs,” Rep. Hill said in a statement

Last month, US lawmakers French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan visited Nigeria to discuss national security and the country's efforts in fighting terrorism. They also met with a Binance executive during their trip. 

Additionally, a family's spokesperson stated that Tigran’s health continues to deteriorate in detention and he complained of numbness in his foot as well as back pain. He also has had double pneumonia and malaria whilst in prison.

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Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance's regional manager for Africa, and Tigran Gambaryan, Binance's head of financial crime compliance, were arrested in Nigeria in February after they entered the country to meet Nigerian authorities over Binance-related issues. While Anjarwalla managed to fly out of Nigeria on March 22, Gambaryan was ordered to be held in a secured location in Abuja. 


Edited by Harshajit Sarmah

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