Binance Executive Catches Malaria, Nigerian Court Adjourns Hearing

Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and Binance executive who has been held in Nigeria’s custody for three months over alleged tax evasion and money laundering crimes, has become ill with malaria. Being indisposed to face court, the Binance executive has been admitted to a local hospital and the lawsuit has been adjourned to June 20th, 2024.

Binance Exec Collapses in Court

According to a local report, Gambaryan was to face the African country’s Federal High Court on May 23rd. However, his poor health made it difficult for him to walk to the dock without assistance. Even while being assisted by a lawyer to walk, the distressed Binance official collapsed.

Gambaryan’s lawyer notified the court of his client’s health condition in a letter to the presiding judge, which wrote:

“[Gambaryan] is very ill and requires comprehensive medical attention. [. . .] The applicant broke down yesterday and the medical facility gave him intravenous treatment for malaria.”

The presiding judge, Emeka Nwite, ruled that the ill Binance executive be treated in a hospital recommended by his lawyer or the prison authorities.

Three Months of Regulatory Woes

Gambaryan’s woes trail back to February when he and Nadeem Anjarwalla, another Binance executive and a British-Kenyan dual citizen, were invited to Nigeria to discuss Binance’s alleged role in crippling the country’s national currency (naira).

After an initial meeting with the government, both Binance officials were detained in the country’s capital, Abuja. Their passports were confiscated and they had no known means of communication with their families.

During the Ramadan celebration, Anjarwalla reportedly escaped custody to another country. The Nigerian government has moved to apprehend and extradite him to the country to face the criminal charges against him and Gambaryan.

Earlier this month, Binance CEO, Richard Teng, called for the release of both executives. While assuring the public that the company is working towards Gambaryan’s and Anjarwalla’s release, he stated that the Nigerian government “has set a dangerous new precedent for all companies worldwide.”