Key Takeaways:
- President Biden personally thanked Nigerian President Tinubu for releasing Tigran Gambaryan, a top Binance executive, who had been detained in Nigeria for eight months.
- Gambaryan, initially charged with tax evasion and money laundering, faced deteriorating health conditions in custody before all charges were dismissed in October.
- International attention and public outcry grew as Gambaryan’s health worsened, prompting humanitarian release and his return to the U.S. for medical care.
U.S. President Joe Biden recently expressed gratitude to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for the humanitarian release of Tigran Gambaryan, a senior Binance executive, who had been detained in Nigeria for eight months.
Gambaryan, a former IRS special agent and Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, was arrested alongside his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla in February while discussing Binance’s operations amid Nigerian concerns over suspected illicit financial flows.
Earlier, I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria to express my condolences on the floods impacting his country and my appreciation for his leadership in securing the humanitarian release of Tigran Gambaryan.
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 29, 2024
We also spoke about the value of our partnership. pic.twitter.com/tsLGG0QLnf
Although Anjarwalla was released in March, Gambaryan faced prolonged detention on charges, including tax evasion and money laundering, and experienced worsening health issues in prison.
Despite his deteriorating health, Nigerian authorities repeatedly denied him bail, citing him as a flight risk.
BREAKING NEWS: Joe Biden Phones President Tinubu Over Binance Executive and Other Issues of cooperation between the USA and Nigeria
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) October 29, 2024
Source: Daily trust pic.twitter.com/vfAlDbdpxt
Growing international pressure emerged in September when footage surfaced showing Gambaryan’s health decline, sparking public outcry.
By October, Nigerian officials dismissed the remaining charges, allowing Gambaryan to reunite with his family in the U.S.
President Biden personally thanked Tinubu for Gambaryan’s release, ending a lengthy ordeal that highlighted issues of humanitarian treatment and international legal relations.
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