Detained Binance Executive Sues Nigerian Authorities
Tigran Gambaryan, a detained executive from the global cryptocurrency exchange Binance, has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria’s National Security Adviser and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Gambaryan accused the government of allegedly violating his basic human rights. Local sources state that Gambaryan’s move alleges violations of the Nigerian constitution in relation to his arrest in the country. This is shortly after his arrival in February and the seizure of his passport.
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Key highlights:
- In February, Nigeria detained Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance.
- Gambaryan’s lawsuit alleges that his detention and passport confiscation violate Nigeria’s constitution.
- The Binance executive is requesting the immediate return of his passport and a public apology.
- Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, filed a similar complaint and has recently escaped Nigerian custody.
Binance’s Gambaryan asks government to return his passport
According to Nigeria’s Punch News, Gambaryan has also requested that the court order the immediate return of his passport and the issuance of a public apology.
Alongside Gambaryan in detention was Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa and a dual citizen of the UK and Kenya. He has reportedly filed a similar complaint against the Nigerian authorities. A Binance spokesperson recently confirmed with The Block that Anjarwalla has managed to escape Nigerian custody.
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The two Binance executives reportedly arrived in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, on February 25. After meeting with Nigerian officials, they were taken to a government facility the next day and detained there.
In a related development, the Nigerian government filed four charges against Binance on Monday for alleged tax evasion. As the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, Binance has faced increasing scrutiny from regulators and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
