Wife Of Binance Nigerian-detained Executive, Yuki Demands Husband’s Release On Humanitarian Ground

Yuki Gambaryan, the wife of the Binance Executive detained in Nigeria, has, on humanitarian grounds, demanded the immediate release of her husband, Tigran Gambaryan, whose health is deteriorating in detention.

Yuki, in a statement disclosed on Monday by Gambaryan’s spokesperson, Monique Thompson, detailed the severe condition of her husband, including a spinal disc herniation disease that requires “highly specialised and risky surgery.”

According to Yuki, Gambryan’s health has worsened since his collapse in court on May 23, 2024, due to ill health and
despite repeated legal requests, the medical reports have reportedly been withheld.

Recall that on May 27, Gambryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, expressed concern for his life due to his health condition.

Due to that, a Nigerian federal high court judge, Emeke Nwite, ordered on July 5 that the prison management release the medical certificate by July 16, but the directive was not complied with.

On July 16, 2024, Justice Nwite, having listened to the prayers of Gambaryan’s lawyer on the alleged refusal by the Kuje Correctional Health Facility to provide his medical report, ordered that the doctor, Abraham Ehizojie, be arrested for non-compliance.

However, according to Yuki, her husband’s legal team has been denied access to him at Kuje prison since July 26.

This, she said, is against both the Nigerian constitution and section 45 of the Nigerian prison’s regulations, which state that “all prisoners, other than prisoners under sentence, shall be allowed all reasonable opportunities daily of communicating with their friends or legal adviser, and they may write and receive letters.”

My husband Tigran left our home for a work trip almost six months ago, and I have no idea when he will return. Now his health is in a shockingly bad condition and getting worse by the day,” she said.

Reflecting that the situation has taken an emotional toll on the family, Yuki shared the pain of their children, particularly their five-year-old son, who struggles to comprehend his father’s prolonged absence, as she added that “Life is becoming harder every day for all of us because of Tigran’s absence.”

Meanwhile, Gambaryan’s legal battle is said to continue on October 11 and 18, on alleged Binance’s unregistered status in Nigeria and having a turnover of over $20bn in Nigeria in 2023, exceeding the federal budgets for health and education, and contributing to currency speculation and the cost-of-living crisis. The U.S. lawmakers’ request to declare him “wrongfully detained” has been ignored by the Nigerian government.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Binance has never paid taxes in the country and has operated without regulatory oversight or safeguards to detect criminal activity. Yet, he asserted that Gambaryan receives necessary medical attention and benefits from consular services provided by his home government.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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