Detained Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan’s Bail Ruling Postponed Due To Judge’s Absence

Binance Nigeria Tigran Gambaryan

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Julia Smith

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Julia Smith

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Julia is an experienced editor with a passion for covering a wide variety of beats. She loves all things politics and regularly covers regulatory updates on emerging technology here for Crypto News.

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October 8, 2024

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Detained Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan remains behind bars in Nigeria Wednesday after presiding Judge Emeka Nwite allegedly failed to attend his bail hearing to attend a seminar on October 9.

Judge Emeka Nwite Reschedules Binance Executive’s Hearing

According to reports, Judge Emeka Nwite seemingly skipped Gambaryan’s hearing this week to attend a seminar at the National Judicial Institute in Abuja, the country’s capital.

The crypto compliance chief’s hearing is now rescheduled for Friday, October 11.

Gambaryan has been imprisoned in the West African nation since late February 2024, when he was hit with money laundering and tax evasion charges by Nigerian authorities.

Concerns have swirled over the legitimacy of the claims, with members of the crypto community alleging that Gambaryan may be nothing more than a pawn in the Nigerian government’s issues with Binance itself, given his lack of decision-making power within the exchange.

“Tigran is a hostage. He did nothing wrong. He is sitting in a prison for a crime he did not commit,” Former IRS special agent Richard Weber said on Illicit Edge’s “Designated” podcast last week. “He’s been in prison for over 200 days – almost eight months – and no one knows what he really did wrong. I don’t even think the Nigerian government knows what he did wrong, and yet they are holding him there.”

Calls Grow Demanding Tigran Gambaryan’s Release

The crypto exchange employee has suffered numerous setbacks regarding his health during his time at Kuje prison outside of Abuja, recently breaking down in pain from a herniated disc in footage from a court hearing held last month.

“I’m not okay,” Gambaryan cried in the video, visibly struggling to walk. “Why couldn’t I use a goddamn wheelchair? This is a show. I’m innocent—why are you doing this to me?”

Gambaryan has long maintained that he is being denied adequate medical care, with U.S. lawmakers French Hill (R-AR) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) claiming the imprisoned Binance executive was suffering from malaria and double pneumonia after visiting him last June.

“Tigran must be immediately granted a humanitarian release, the remaining charges dropped, and he must return home to America where he belongs,” Hill said in a statement at the time.

“They cannot keep playing games with my husband’s life like this. This entire situation is inhumane and degrading, and I am fed up,” Tigran’s wife, Yuki Gambaryan, said in a recent statement shared with cryptonews.com. “There must be consequences for disregarding law and human rights.”