Binance executive Tigran Gambarian remains hospitalized in Abuja, Nigeria after fainting in court earlier this week, and the money laundering case has been dropped. Reuters.
The head of financial crime compliance at the largest crypto exchange was denied bail earlier this month after being arrested in the state at the end of February. The executive, who spent more than a month in Nigeria's Kuje Prison, was reportedly arraigned earlier this week.
Gambarian's lawyer wrote in a letter to the trial judge, Emeka Nwite, that he is “very sick and needs full medical attention.” The report from Reuters.
In April, Gambrian pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges after being indicted along with British-Kenya regional manager for Africa, Nadeem Anjarwala.
Anjarwala escaped from prison in March and managed to fly to Kenya, but there are indications he may be extradited.
Binance CEO Richard Teng earlier this month called for the release of the two employees, and the Nigerian government denied the allegations. In two separate lawsuits, the Nigerian government alleged that Binance was evading taxes and allowing the currency to be used for money laundering.
Teng also said that Gambian “is an innocent and middle-class employee” who was “detained in a dangerous prison for controlling Binance”.
Gambarian, on the other hand, accused the Nigerian government of violating his basic human rights.
The two Binance executives have been invited to travel to Nigeria to discuss the case there with government officials before any charges are filed. Once there, however, they were held without charge in an official guest house for over a month.
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