Nigeria’s Information Minister Says Binance Executive is Receiving Utmost Fair Treatment
On June 21, Nigeria’s minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, released a statement regarding the conditions and health of Binance’s executive in detention, Tigran Gambaryan.
The government official through his official X account noted that Gambaryan is not in poor prison condition, with claims that quality medical care and complete consular services are being provided:
“It has become necessary for the Federal Government of Nigeria to address claims that Binance Executive, Tigran Gambaryan is being held in unsavory prison conditions in Nigeria, or that his health is deteriorating. We would like to state that these allegations are false and should be ignored.”
He expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring fundamental rights to lawful trials and access to quality care as he undergoes trial in Nigeria. Idris said the Nigerian government will uphold due process in ensuring that Binance is brought to justice, noting that it is “a legitimate sovereign quest that is similarly being pursued in several other countries around the world.”
The minister concluded that Gambaryan is having the utmost fair treatment, with the protection of his legal and human rights throughout the judicial proceedings. This came after several members of the U.S. Congress sent a letter to President Joe Biden, Secretary U.S. Department of State, and Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs asking them to bring Binance employee Tigran Gambaryan home.
Likewise, several former federal prosecutors and federal agents sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urgently requesting that the State Department do more to ensure that Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan is released from detention in Nigeria.
Both Nadeem Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan were placed in detention by Nigeria’s government four months ago after they travelled to defend Binance against charges of tax evasion and money laundering. Anjarwalla escaped prison and fled to Kenya.