Family

United

Biden

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pressed ahead with its money laundering case against Binance and its executive, Tigran Gambaryan, on Thursday, June 20, prompting a response from his wife, Yuki Gambaryan.
According to local media, the EFCC’s lead counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, <a href="https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/efcc-to-continue-trial-of-binance-director-gambaryan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">appeared</a> during the proceedings, allowing the cross-examination of the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission Director, Abdulkadir Abbas, to proceed.
This development comes just days after a court cleared Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla — who had fled Nigeria — of tax evasion charges related to Binance in a case brought by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Friday, June 14.
The court decided in a short ruling following new amended charges filed by the FIRS due to a notice from Binance about its appointment of a Nigerian representative, Ayodele Omotilewa.
<h2 data-ct-non-breakable="true" id="family-reaction">Family reaction</h2>
In a statement to the press, Gambaryan’s wife expressed her confusion about why the EFCC cannot follow FIRS and release her husband. She also urged the United States government to expedite his release. She said:
<blockquote data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 “It is time for the Nigerian authorities to do the right thing and let my innocent husband go.&nbsp;Tigrans and my own tax dollars get sent to Nigeria in aid every year. Nigeria is supposed to be an ally. I refuse to believe that our State Department cannot do more to have an innocent American citizen released.”
</blockquote>
<h2 data-ct-non-breakable="true" id="lawmakers-advocate-for-gambaryan-s-release">Lawmakers advocate for Gambaryan’s release</h2>
Two members of the U.S. Congress, Representatives Chrissy Houlahan and French Hill, met Gambaryan in Kuje Prison in Nigeria on Thursday, June 20. <a href="https://x.com/RepFrenchHill/status/1803898800966091087" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">According</a> to Hill, Gambaryan has suffered from malaria and double pneumonia and has lost a lot of weight due to neglect in the provision of medical attention.
<figure data-ct-non-breakable="true">
 <img src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-06/20da6c62-7c63-44b3-a68c-38e844ba9d06.png" alt="" title="">
 <figcaption style="text-align: center;">
 Source: <a href="https://x.com/RepFrenchHill/status/1803898800966091087" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">French Hill</a>
 </figcaption>
</figure>
Houlahan and Hill have called for Gambaryan’s immediate humanitarian release, given the poor prison conditions and his health state.
Related: <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/nigerian-officials-drop-some-charges-detained-binance-exec">Nigerian officials drop some charges against detained Binance exec</a>
The lawmakers’ visit came after 18 U.S. Congress members wrote a joint letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-politicans-ask-biden-bring-binance-employee-home-nigeria">urging them to intervene</a> to end Gambaryan’s detention.
<h2 data-ct-non-breakable="true" id="background-of-the-case">Background of the case</h2>
Binance regional manager Anjarwalla and head of financial crime compliance Gambaryan were<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/nigerian-central-bank-head-criticizes-binance-execs-reportedly-arrested"> detained in Nigeria on Feb. 26</a>. Gambaryan had traveled to the country from the U.S. to participate in the company’s defense against tax evasion and money laundering charges.
Binance and its executives faced&nbsp;<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/binance-detained-us-exec-more-charges-nigeria">two separate cases</a>&nbsp;by the FIRS and EFCC. The former centered on tax evasion, while the latter involved money laundering and foreign exchange contravention.
Magazine: <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/us-enforcement-agencies-turning-up-heat-crypto-related-crime/">US enforcement agencies are turning up the heat on crypto-related crime</a>

Binance exec legal battle escalates amid US-Nigeria tug of war

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