After eight long months of detention in Nigeria, Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan has finally walked free.
The Nigerian government decided to withdraw its money laundering case against Gambaryan, who heads Binance’s financial crime compliance team.
His ordeal came to a sudden halt in court on Wednesday when the lawyer representing Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the government’s decision to drop the charges. Justice Emeka Nwite, overseeing the case, accepted the withdrawal, putting an end to the long-running saga.
Gambaryan’s arrest in Abuja, along with his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla, shocked many. Both men were taken into custody as part of what was widely seen as a bogus case against Binance, with questions about the Nigerian government’s motives.
Since then, Binance and Gambaryan’s family have been pushing for the charges to be dropped, calling the accusations trumped up and baseless. Their efforts have finally paid off, but not without a toll on Gambaryan’s health and well-being.
The health battles and legal drama
Since his arrest, he has been battling various health problems, most notably malaria and a severe back injury. These health issues worsened during his time in detention, leading to multiple delays in the legal process.
Just last week, he wasn’t able to appear in court due to his deteriorating condition. A back injury made it impossible for him to sit through the proceedings, and he also struggles with malaria.
The decision to drop the charges came at a time when the government seemed to be running out of options, with international attention increasing.
Binance, for its part, has maintained that Gambaryan was simply caught in the crossfire of Nigeria’s hostile crackdown.
