Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, has left Nigeria following eight months of detention. Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, confirmed his departure in a statement shared with the press on Thursday.
“Today, American citizen Tigran Gambaryan left Nigeria to return home to his family after eight months of unlawful detention. Gambaryan was released from Kuje Prison last night. His health has deteriorated significantly during his time in detention, and he can now finally receive the urgent medical care he needs,” the statement read.
The release followed a ruling on Wednesday by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which dismissed money laundering charges against Gambaryan, initially brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). During the court proceedings, EFCC officials cited Gambaryan’s declining health as a reason for the case’s delay.
According to a review by the Nigerian Correctional Service, backed by the Office of the National Security Adviser, Gambaryan’s health had worsened to the point where he required a wheelchair to move.
Expressing her relief over the release, Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, shared her gratitude and the family’s ordeal over the past eight months.
“It’s an immense relief that this day has finally arrived. The past months have been nothing short of a nightmare. I wish it hadn’t taken this long for his release or for his health to suffer so much, but now we can focus on healing together as a family,” she said. “My deepest thanks go to the U.S. government for its efforts in securing Tigran’s freedom and to everyone who supported us through this difficult time. There were moments I feared this day might never come, but Tigran’s supporters kept us going.”
Gambaryan and his children, who eagerly await his return, now face a challenging road to recovery.
Gambaryan’s ordeal began in February when Nigerian authorities detained him alongside his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan who serves as Binance’s regional manager for Africa. Both were accused of involvement in a $35 million money-laundering case by the EFCC. Anjarwalla managed to escape custody on March 22, while Gambaryan was arraigned in court on April 8.
