Senator Ihenyen, the lead partner at Infusion Lawyers, stated that Tigran Gambaryan, head of financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange Binance, has been detained by the Nigerian government since February 28 and should be released. Ihenyen shared his statement in an August 3 post on X.
"Tigran Gambaryan, @Binance's Head of Financial Crimes, has been in detention in Nigeria since 28 February 2024," said Ihenyen. "Humble call for his release."
According to a resolution filed with the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee urging the Nigerian government to release him, Gambaryan spent more than 10 years working for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) before joining Binance. While working for the IRS, Gambaryan investigated "highly public crimes" resulting in the seizure of "over $4,000,000,000 in illicit funds on behalf of the United States Government." The Nigerian government invited Gambaryan to participate in compliance discussions, but the meetings became "hostile," and he was detained on February 26. He was later charged with crimes including tax evasion and money laundering and transferred to Kuje Prison, "which is known for its harsh conditions." Nigerian government officials "admitted openly in court that Tigran is being tried in lieu of pursuing legal action against his employer." Gambaryan has tested positive for malaria and has not received adequate medical treatment.
CoinDesk reported that Gambaryan has been experiencing deteriorating health since he was moved to Kuje Prison. In addition to malaria, he has tested positive for pneumonia and now has a herniated disc that has left him "hardly able to walk." He had to be pushed into a Nigerian courtroom in a wheelchair on July 16. Prison officials have not complied with a Nigerian court order to release Gambaryan's medical records.
The Digital Chamber, a U.S.-based blockchain industry advocacy group, said Gambaryan is being held to "coerce" a fine from Binance, according to a post on the organization's website. "This egregious act appears to be a state-sponsored kidnapping," the Chamber said in the post. The Chamber also stated that Gambaryan's detention is a "flagrant violation of international law" that "sets a dangerous precedent" for American businessmen traveling abroad.
The Blockchain Industry Coordinating Committee of Nigeria (BICCoN) said the Nigerian government's ongoing imprisonment of Gambaryan could damage international community support for Nigeria. BICCoN emphasized that the situation calls for a "balanced approach" and urged the Nigerian government to consider the impact of Gambaryan's detention on emerging industries and other sectors within Nigeria. "To mitigate these risks and promote a thriving blockchain ecosystem, BICCoN urges the Nigerian government to prioritize constructive dialogue that will lead to a healthy conclusion of the matter," BICCoN said.
Ihenyen leads the FinTech, Blockchain & Virtual Assets Practice at his law firm, according to its website. He previously served as President of Stakeholders of Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria and is now a member of its Advisory Council. He is also part of the Information Technology Committee of Nigeria Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL).
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