Binance boss departs Nigeria after FG dropped money laundering charges

Tigran Gambaryan, Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, left Nigeria just days after the Federal Government dismissed money laundering charges against him. The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange announced Gambaryan’s departure from Nigeria in a statement on Thursday, October 24. “Today, American citizen Tigran Gambaryan returned home to his family after enduring eight months of unlawful detention,” the statement read.

“Gambaryan was released from Kuje prison last night. His health deteriorated significantly during his imprisonment, and he can now finally receive the medical treatment he urgently needs.”

Previously, a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the money laundering charges filed against Gambaryan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). During the hearing, the EFCC cited his declining health as the reason for the case delay. The Nigerian Correctional Service and the Office of the National Security Adviser reported that Gambaryan’s condition had worsened to the extent that he needed a wheelchair for mobility.

Reacting to the charges being dropped and his return, Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, expressed relief over his regained freedom in a statement. “It’s a huge relief to have this day finally arrive. The past eight months have been a nightmare. I wish his release hadn’t taken so long, or that his health hadn’t declined so severely, but we can now focus on his recovery as a family.

“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the U.S. government for their role in securing his release and to everyone who supported us through this ordeal. There were times I doubted this day would come, but the strength from Tigran’s supporters kept me going. “His path to recovery will be challenging, and I’m grateful to have the time and space to focus on it. Our children are overjoyed to finally have their dad back home,” she said.

In February, Nigerian authorities detained Gambaryan along with Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan regional manager for Africa at Binance, on money laundering charges involving $35 million. While Anjarwalla escaped custody on March 22, Gambaryan faced court arraignment on April 8.