Binance Holdings executive Tigran Gambaryan flew out of Nigeria on Thursday, having languished in the African nation’s custody for eight months over money-laundering allegations against the cryptocurrency platform.
Mr Gambaryan’s departure was contained in a statement written by his wife on Thursday.
What was supposed to be an official visit in March for Binance executives Nadeem Anjarwalla and Mr Gambaryan turned into an arrest and monthslong detention as the Nigerian government charged them with money-laundering over the financial activities of the cryptocurrency platform.
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Mr Anjarwalla managed to escaped in March, leaving Mr Gambaryan to alone bear the brunt of Nigeria’s wrath.
Despite contracting malaria fever and pneumonia, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court denied Mr Gambaryan bail on two occassions which caused his health to deteriorate until the U.S government waded into the matter.
On Wednesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a sudden turn of events withdrew all the charges filed against Mr Gambaryan, emphasising that he could not be held responsible for Binance’s suspicious activities.
There are reports that the withdrawal of charges came on the back of relentless push backs from the U.S. government.
“Today, American citizen Tigran Gambaryan left Nigeria to return home to his family after eight months of unlawful detention,” said his wife, Yuki, in a statement on Thursday
Last eight months, a living nightmare: Yuki Gambaryan
She likened the last eight months to a “living nightmare” stating that while she was glad that he had now been freed, she wished that the Nigerian government released him earlier to attend to his health which she said has “declined so much.”
“It is a huge relief that this day has finally come. The past eight months have been a living nightmare. I wish it hadn’t taken this long for his release or that his health had not declined so much, but we can now focus on healing as a family,” Mrs Gambaryan stated.
She thanked the U.S. government for mounting pressure on the Nigerian government to facilitate her husband’s release.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the US government for their efforts in securing his release. I also want to thank everyone who helped us throughout this ordeal. There were moments I feared this day would never come, but Tigran’s supporters gave me hope and strength,” she said.
Justice Nwite on Wednesday directed that Mr Gambaryan be released after the EFCC prosecutor applied to withdraw all the charges instituted against him.
The EFCC, however, noted that the case will continue against Binance, stressing that Mr Gambaryan was excluded given he was an employee whose opinions held no bearing on the crypto platform.