Nigeria Pushes Binance Exec’s Trial Forward Due to Absence of Legal Counsel

The Nigerian authorities have setSeptember 2 as the date for Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan's legal trial. The government detained Gambaryan on money laundering allegations and accused the crypto exchange of causing a decline in the naira's value.

As the court hearing draws close, the defendant has not contacted his legal counsel.

Nigeria Sets Legal Trial For Detained Binance Executive Gambaryan

The legal trial of Tigran Gambaryan, Binance executive and former US federal agent, was scheduled today. However, the defendant hasno access to his legal counsel.

Binance CEO Richard Tengissued a statement on August 27 regarding Ganbaryan's scheduled legal trial. Teng noted that though Nigeria had set the trial a month earlier, the country denied Ganbaryan access to his legal counsel.

Teng wrote: Furthermore, the authorities are refusing to provide him access to his legal counsel, despite his trial commencing on September 2, which we have been informed is unconstitutional in Nigeria."

Nigerian authorities arrested and detained Tigran Gambaryan in Februaryon money laundering charges. The government accused Binance offinancial crimes amounting to up to $34 million related to its operation in the country.

The Nigerian authorities also accused the exchange of triggering a sharp decline in the value of its currency, the naira, in June 2023. However, Binance refuted the claims, stating that Naria kept falling even after the exchange halted its P2P services in the country in February 2024.

Binance CEO Appeals For Gambaryan's Release On Humanitarian Grounds, Highlights Deteriorating Health Conditions

In his statement, Binance CEO Richard Teng has appealed to the Nigerian government to release Gambaryan on humanitarian grounds. The CEO also pointed out the detainee's deteriorating health and mental conditions since his 6 months of detention in Nigeria.

Further, he pointed out that Gambaryan now suffers from a herniated disc, has been in pain, and can't even walk.However, the Nigerian government refused to provide him with adequate medical attention, including the basic needs of a wheelchair.

According to the CEO, Gambaryan's condition had become critical as his health dropped drastically. Based on that, he appealed to the authorities to release the staff so they could get urgent medical treatment in the US.

Teng stated: I appeal once again for the Nigerian government to allow him to go home to his family on humanitarian grounds so that he can seek the appropriate medical treatment in the US, recover, and get back to the healthy, active life he previously had."

Similarly, Gambaryan's wife, Yuki, has pleaded for her husband's release in a statement marking his sixth month of detention.The family noted how bouts of malaria, pneumonia, and even mental depression have reduced him in detention.

According to Yuki,Gambaryan should be released before the damage done to him is irreversible."

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