Chief executive officer (CEO) of cryptocurrency firm, Binance, Richard Teng, has told the federal government that the continued detention of its executive, Tigran Gambaryan, is “unjust, unfairly and unlawful”.
On February 28, Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, were detained by the Nigerian authorities and charged with tax evasion.
Lately, his wife, Yuki, has complained about his poor health, saying he requires “highly specialised and risky surgery” to treat the herniated disc in his back.
Speaking on the Gambaryan’s condition, Teng said “Tigran’s physical and mental conditions have deteriorated rapidly with his situation being more dire than ever. He is in severe pain and unable to walk due to a herniated disc.”
He lamented that despite his conditions, the Nigerian government has refused adequate medical care, including basic needs such as providing access to a wheelchair.
“Furthermore, they are refusing to provide access to his legal counsel, despite a trial commencing on 2 September, which we have been informed is unconstitutional in Nigeria.
“A court has demanded the government release Tigran’s medical records but after several months, they have still not complied. This week Tigran was denied access to his US consulate representative. These actions are inexplicable.”
Teng also said he is deeply concerned about the long-term, potentially irreversible physical and mental impact “this horrific episode is having on Tigran”.
“I appeal once again for the Nigerian government to allow him to go home to his family on humanitarian grounds so that he can seek the appropriate medical treatment in the US, recover and get back to the healthy, active life he previously had,” the Binance CEO said.
