Nigerian Court Maintains Detention of Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan Amid Health Issues

The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the new bail request of Tigran Gambaryan, a senior executive at Binance, who has been held since February 2024 on allegations of money laundering.

The court’s decision to deny bail, issued on October 11, 2024, by Justice Emeka Nwite, came after intense discussions between Gambaryan’s legal team and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding assertions about his health and the justification for his ongoing detention.

Tigran Gambaryan Detention: Nigerian Court Denies Bail

As reported by a local source, Tigran Gambaryan’s legal representatives, headed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mark Mordi, had previously submitted a new bail request due to a decline in his client’s health while in custody.

The defense claimed that Gambaryan was suffering from a serious medical issue, specifically a herniated disc, and required surgery as well as psychiatric treatment for depression and anxiety.

They argued that these medical conditions could not be sufficiently addressed within Nigeria’s detention facilities and requested a six-week bail period to enable him to pursue specialized treatment abroad.

Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan filed a new bail application on health grounds, but Nigeria’s economic crimes agency opposed it. https://t.co/YNEapLyp2g

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During the prior hearing on September 4, 2024, Mordi presented medical documentation and contended that Gambaryan’s health had significantly worsened since his detention commenced, emphasizing the urgent need for medical intervention.

“His condition is critical, and failure to provide him with immediate medical attention could lead to irreversible harm.”

He urged the court to grant bail under “liberal terms” or, alternatively, a six-week bail to facilitate necessary medical treatment abroad.

However, the EFCC, represented by counsel Ekele Iheanacho, opposed the bail request, asserting that Gambaryan’s health claims were overstated.

Iheanacho presented counter-evidence, including medical reports from the State House Clinic and Nizamiye Hospital, where Gambaryan had received treatment.

The EFCC’s argument was based on the assertion that Nigerian medical facilities were fully equipped to handle Gambaryan’s condition and that there was no pressing need for him to leave the country for care.

He further noted that Gambaryan had declined medical interventions, including medication, and questioned the seriousness of his condition, suggesting that his health issues were being leveraged as a tactic to obtain bail.

Iheanacho also highlighted that Gambaryan’s initial bail request, which was similarly based on health concerns, had already been denied by the court, and an appeal was pending at the Court of Appeal.

He contended that the new bail application constituted an abuse of the court process, as the same matters were being re-litigated without the prior appeal being withdrawn.

Judge’s Ruling: Abuse of Process and Adequate Medical Care

Justice Emeka Nwite, in his ruling, aligned with the EFCC’s position, stating that the new bail application represented an abuse of court process.

Nwite remarked that Gambaryan’s initial bail request, which also cited health issues, was still under appeal and had not been withdrawn, thus a new application could not be entertained.

“There is no gainsaying on this leg alone that this application is bound to fail. It is well established that a lawyer cannot re-litigate a matter that is already under appeal unless the earlier application has been withdrawn.”

The judge also assessed the medical evidence provided by both parties, concluding that there was no indication that Gambaryan’s health condition could not be managed within Nigeria.

He referred to the reports from both the State House Clinic and Nizamiye Hospital, which indicated that Gambaryan had been receiving consistent medical care.

The reports, according to the court, did not substantiate the claim that his health was deteriorating to the extent that he required treatment abroad, but rather demonstrated that he had been actively engaged and provided with necessary care.

However, to ensure that his health needs were addressed, the judge instructed the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to refer Gambaryan to a standard hospital in Abuja for further evaluation and treatment, if necessary, under security supervision.

The court has set the next hearing for October 18, with additional sessions scheduled for November 22 and 25, 2024. For the time being, Gambaryan remains in custody, with his health and legal challenges continuing.

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