Richard Teng, the CEO of Binance, has exposed the declining physical and mental well-being of their detained executive, Tigran Gambaryan, in custody.
Gambaryan, suffering from intense pain, is unable to move due to a herniated disc while in detention, according to Teng.
As Gambaryan marks six months in custody, Teng criticizes the Nigerian government for not granting him access to proper medical care.
Following allegations of money laundering, Gambaryan was apprehended by the Nigerian government on February 26, 2024.
The Nigerian government accused Binance, Gambaryan, and the fugitive Nadeem Anjarwalla of conspiring to hide the origins of illicit funds from their activities in Nigeria, amounting to $35,400,000.
On July 30, 2024, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Abraham Ehizojie, a doctor at the Kuje Correctional Centre, for failing to present Gambaryan’s medical report or appear in court.
This action followed Gambaryan’s lawyer highlighting his health struggles, noting that he had previously appeared in court in a wheelchair.
During the ongoing proceedings regarding Gambaryan’s health concerns, Ekene Iheanacho, the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed the judge that the medical officer’s presence was anticipated.
Yet, in a statement released on Tuesday, Teng conveyed: “We have reached the six-month point of Tigran’s unjust detention with his physical and mental state deteriorating rapidly. His condition has worsened significantly, rendering him immobile due to a herniated disc.”
“Despite his deteriorating health, the Nigerian government has neglected to provide proper medical treatment, including essential requirements like a wheelchair,” Teng added.
“Moreover, they have been uncooperative in allowing access to his legal representation, despite an upcoming trial on September 2, which we understand to be unconstitutional in Nigeria. Although a court has instructed the government to release Gambaryan’s medical records, they have not complied even after several months. This week, Gambaryan was barred from meeting his US consulate representative. These actions defy explanation.”
Expressing concern about Gambaryan’s enduring physical and mental toll, Teng implored the Nigerian government once more to permit his return home to his family on compassionate grounds. This would enable him to seek necessary medical treatment in the US, recuperate, and return to the active, healthy life he once enjoyed,” the statement concluded.