Nigerian Detained Binance Exec Appears in Court in a Wheelchair Amid Deteriorating Health

Nigerian Detained Binance Exec Appears in Court in a Wheelchair Amid Deteriorating Health

The health of Tigran Gambaryan, a United States citizen and Binance executive who is currently being held in Nigeria and standing trial, has reportedly deteriorated significantly. Gambaryan recently appeared in court in a wheelchair due to excruciating pain from a herniated disc. According to information released by his family, Gambaryan is said to be suffering from deteriorating health and is hardly able to walk at present. He was initially being held under house arrest but was transferred to Kuje prison after his colleague, Binance’s Africa director Nadeem Anjarwalla, escaped. Gambaryan’s transfer to Kuje prison has raised concerns over his safety and well-being. Kuje prison is reportedly home to some of the most notorious criminals in Nigerian history. Gambaryan’s family has called for his immediate release on humanitarian grounds, citing his deteriorating health and the harsh conditions of the prison. Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were arrested in April 2022 on charges of operating an unlicensed digital asset exchange. They have denied the charges, and their trial is ongoing. The Nigerian government has cracked down on cryptocurrency trading in recent years, and Binance is one of several exchanges that have been targeted.