Key Takeaways
- Tigran Gambaryan was released from prison in Nigeria after months of diplomatic negotiations.
- Binance is still facing tax evasion and money laundering charges.
- Escaped Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla is believed to still be in Kenya awaiting extradition to Nigeria.
U.S. President Joe Biden has personally thanked the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, for his cooperation in releasing Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive and former U.S. security law enforcement official.
Biden Praises Tinubu
As per an Oct. 29 release from the White House, Biden spoke with President Tinubu on several matters as the two seek to deepen their relations.
During the 30-minute call, Biden expressed gratitude for the humanitarian release of Gambaryan.
For months, Gambaryan’s wife, groups, advocates, lawmakers, politicians, and the Binance CEO have been calling for Gambaryan’s release, especially as he accumulated multiple worsening health conditions and illnesses.
Upon his transfer to Kuje prison in Abuja, the tone of these calls changed from freeing an innocent man to freeing an innocent man whose life is in danger.
After contracting malaria and pneumonia, Gambaryan began experiencing issues with his spine due to a pre-existing condition and even collapsed in court.
In September, footage of Gambaryan and his condition flooded the news, and it was at this point that calls for his immediate release intensified.
After the courts adjourned for summer recess, and after having a second bail application denied, it was thought that Gambaryan wouldn’t see proper medical treatment or know the outcomes of the trials until December 2024 at best or 2025 at worst.
Last week, there was a sudden shift. Nigeria dropped the money laundering charges against Gambaryan and concluded that he wasn’t a decision-making authority within Binance.
Binance Nigeria
After a lengthy 8-month stay in Nigeria and a 6-month stint in one of its toughest prisons, Gambaryan is believed to be back in the U.S. with his family in Atlanta.
But one part of the puzzle remains: the whereabouts or condition of the other Binance exec, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who was detained in Nigeria but seemingly escaped to Kenya.
British-Kenyan citizen Anjarwalla fled Nigeria in late March and supposedly boarded a flight to Kenya, where he was swiftly arrested.
He is reportedly awaiting extradition to Nigeria to face charges, but this has yet to come to fruition.
However, with Gambaryan’s release on humanitarian grounds, Nigerian courts could face further embarrassment if they attempt to pursue Anjarwalla.
Meanwhile, Binance still faces tax evasion and money laundering charges, the trials of which are to resume in November 2024.
Eddie is a gaming and crypto writer at CCN. Covering the often weird and wonderful world of Web3 with an adoring, but skeptical eye.
Prior to CCN, Eddie has spent the past seven years working his way through the crypto, finance, and technology industry. He began with PR and journalism with Bitcoin PR Buzz and BitcoinNews.com, eventually working his way to become a copywriter with a dozen firms, including the likes of Polkadot before returning to journalism in 2023.
Having studied Radio production and journalism at University in the UK, Eddie spent a few years making podcasts and presenting on a local London radio station as he built up his writing chops.
A lifelong skateboarder, Eddie can often be found at the skatepark or touring the streets looking for something new to try. That, or kicking back playing JRPGs on his original PSP.
