Two members of the US Congress have escalated their efforts to free a Binance executive imprisoned in Nigeria on money laundering charges.
On Wednesday, Representative Richard McCormick of Georgia and his fellow Republican, Representative French Hill of Arkansas, filed a resolution with the House Foreign Affairs Committee calling for the “immediate release” of Tigran Gambaryan.
The resolution provided a detailed history of Gambaryan’s plight in Nigeria since he was arrested and detained on February 26 after visiting the nation’s capital, Abuja, to meet with government officials about Binance’s operations.
The submission also highlighted Gambaryan’s failing health and the indifference shown by Nigerian officials to his condition despite a court order.
While a resolution does not have the force of a bill, its authors hope it spurs the White House to take action in the case.
Congressman Hill visited Gambaryan last month in prison and reported that the Binance executive was suffering in inhumane conditions.
Nigerian officials rejected the assertion by French and Gambaryan’s family that he was not receiving proper medical attention.
But on July 5, Justice Emeka Nwite chided the prosecution and prison officials for ignoring a prior order to present Gambaryan’s medical test report to the defendant’s representatives.
Ill health
Gambaryan collapsed in court at the start of this trial in May and has shown visible signs of ill health in subsequent court appearances, as monitored by DL News.
Responding to the resolution, Gambaryan’s wife Yuki expressed her appreciation of the lawmakers’ efforts on her husband’s behalf.
“I hope the US government’s involvement will expedite the process of getting him released. My husband is innocent, he is not a decision-maker at Binance and I hope the Nigerian authorities release him,” Yuki said in a statement to DL News.
“He needs to be freed right now.”
Gambaryan’s money laundering trial is to resume on July 15, but the proceedings may be hampered by a scheduled holiday for federal judges between mid-July and September.
The Binance executive pleaded not guilty to the charges filed by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that also list his employer, Binance, as a defendant.
Tax case
Both Binance and Gambaryan also faced a tax-violation indictment, but that case against Gambaryan was dropped because he didn’t represent the company in matters tied to the complaint.
Still, the EFCC maintains that it will continue to prosecute the case against both.
Nigeria’s government is backing the EFCC, with the country’s Information Minister Mohammed Idris having stated that: “They [Binance] have committed a crime.”
Osato Avan-Nomayo is our Nigeria-based DeFi correspondent. He covers DeFi and tech. To share tips or information about stories, please contact him at osato@dlnews.com.