In a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings, the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor staunchly opposed the bail application filed by Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, citing medical grounds. During resumed court hearings in Abuja, Gambaryan’s lawyers presented his deteriorating health condition as a primary reason for bail, additionally noting that they had been hindered from adequate preparation for his trial. The court witnessed a striking moment when Gambaryan, reportedly denied a wheelchair, struggled to enter on crutches and became visibly emotional during the proceedings, making a direct plea to the judge for proper medical care and access to legal counsel and embassy representatives.

Gambaryan’s legal team expressed profound concern over his health, detailing a herniated disc in his back and recurrent bouts of Pneumonia, Malaria, and Tonsillitis. Despite these assertions and Gambaryan’s personal plea, the EFCC prosecutor maintained that he was not in ill health. This claim stood in stark contrast to a part of Gambaryan’s own medical records, provided by the EFCC, which reportedly recommended immediate surgery for the Binance executive. Further complicating matters, information from his family indicated that an MRI scan was missing from the report, while the EFCC prosecution claimed Gambaryan was refusing treatment. Ultimately, the judge ordered that Gambaryan be allowed to use a wheelchair but adjourned the bail application hearing until Wednesday.

Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and head of financial crimes compliance at Binance, has been detained by Nigerian authorities for a distressing six months. His detention began in February 2024, following a visit to Nigeria with another Binance official, Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan national. They had arrived for a strategic meeting aimed at dialoguing with the Nigerian government amidst its clampdown on crypto activities, which authorities claimed were linked to currency exchange pricing manipulation and terrorism financing on P2P platforms. Subsequently, both executives were detained and faced charges including laundering over $35 million and engaging in specialized financial activities without a licence. Anjarwalla later 'escaped' from detention in March, reportedly leaving the country with a fake passport, leaving Gambaryan as the sole detained executive.

The prolonged detention has taken a heavy toll on Gambaryan and his family. His wife, Yuki, has publicly conveyed her deep distress, highlighting the numerous significant family milestones Tigran has missed while incarcerated. These include their son’s 5th birthday and his first day of school, as well as Tigran’s own 40th birthday. The imminent approach of his wife’s birthday on August 31st and their 15th wedding anniversary further compounds the emotional burden. In a heartfelt plea, Yuki also released a video, urgently requesting his release before the potential damage to his health and well-being becomes irreversible.

Calls for Tigran Gambaryan's release and a resolution to his situation have intensified, particularly in recent weeks, fueled by increasing concerns over his deteriorating health. Binance CEO Richard Teng released a statement explicitly demanding Gambaryan's release and, in a revealing declaration, disclosed that Nigeria has never constituted a major market for the world's largest crypto exchange. The legal and humanitarian implications of this case continue to draw international attention as the bail application hearing remains pending after its recent adjournment.