A senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed that the United States, US, is actively seeking consular access to Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive being held at the Kuje custodial centre in Abuja.
Gambaryan, a US citizen and Binance’s financial crimes compliance chief, was arrested in February 2024 alongside another executive, Anjarwalla, upon their arrival in Nigeria.
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The detention of Gambaryan and Anjarwalla followed an investigation that allegedly linked Binance to money laundering and terrorism financing.
Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled October 9 to rule on a fresh bail application filed by Gambaryan’s lawyers.
Read Also: Binance CEO: Gambaryan’s Health Condition Deteriorating in Nig
Concerns have been raised about Gambaryan’s well-being, with Binance CEO Richard Teng calling for his release due to claims of deteriorating health and inadequate medical care.
Gambaryan’s family has also alleged that he is being denied access to a wheelchair, further exacerbating his health issues.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs source, who requested anonymity, told Sunday PUNCH that the US is particularly focused on Gambaryan’s health and is pressing for consular access to ensure his well-being.
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The US government’s involvement highlights the international attention surrounding Gambaryan’s detention and the need for a swift resolution to ensure his safety and health.
He said: “I only know that the US is concerned about the man’s health, especially now that his family has gone public in the US with the matter.
“I would not say they are lobbying, they are just concerned that they are not being granted access to the man (being a US citizen). Remember that Binance had their issue in the US as well.”
In response to the situation, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico and Singapore, stated that while the request is justified, it should not impede Nigeria’s legal proceedings.
He said: “The US is right in requesting consular access to the detained Binance executive,” he said. “Nigeria does not interfere when Nigerians are arrested for criminal activities in the US. We allow the US legal system to proceed without interference.”
Meanwhile, Ambassador Rasheed Akinkuolie, a retired Consul to Cameroon and Delegate to the World Expo and Economic Development Centre in Paris, highlighted the vital role of embassies in safeguarding the interests of their citizens detained in foreign countries.
Akinkuolie said: “It is the right and function of every embassy to have access to detained nationals in a foreign country, regardless of the offence—be it murder or any other serious crime.
“The embassy needs to be informed to ensure that the individual is not mistreated or unjustly punished.”
Akinkuolie explained that once embassies are involved, they investigate the charges and provide legal support if necessary.
Akinkuolie stressed that embassy involvement often results in better treatment for detainees, regardless of the gravity of their offense. “When the embassy is involved, the host country becomes more cautious in their handling of the detainee.”
