A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by former Binance Head of Financial Crime Compliance, Tigran Gambaryan, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). The suit, brought under the guise of fundamental rights, alleged unlawful and prolonged detention in Nigeria. In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Umar Mohammed of the Abuja High Court ruled against Gambaryan, stating that the court would not "interfere" with the prosecutorial duties of the Nigerian authorities.

Justice Mohammed affirmed that security agencies are constitutionally empowered to investigate suspected foreign exchange violations and alleged money laundering involving the Binance platform. Gambaryan had previously sought costs against the NSA and EFCC due to his extended detention by security operatives. In June 2024, his counsel, Tonye Krukrubo (SAN) and Sunday Agaji, submitted an amended originating motion seeking to enforce their client’s fundamental rights in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/356/2024. Gambaryan’s lawyer had also asked Justice Inyang Ekwo to compel the NSA and EFCC to issue an apology for his client’s detention.

During the recent proceedings, EFCC counsel Olanrewaju Adeola argued that Gambaryan's detention was lawful, based on charges of money laundering and foreign exchange violations, and described his suit as "a gross abuse of court processes." The court's dismissal of the suit upheld the EFCC's position. Furthermore, the judge noted that Gambaryan provided no evidence to demonstrate immunity from prosecution in Nigeria or under Nigerian law.

The case background traces back to May 2023, following a sudden crash of the Nigerian currency, when the Federal Government of Nigeria accused Binance of involvement in disrupting the currency market. This led to separate lawsuits by the EFCC and FIRS against Binance, citing alleged tax evasion, money laundering, and foreign exchange violations. Tigran Gambaryan was detained during his visit to Nigeria after the cryptocurrency company was implicated in cybercrimes amounting to approximately $35.4 million. Another executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, was also held alongside Gambaryan for several months, though he later escaped from detention.

After significant diplomatic interventions and concerns over his deteriorating health, Tigran Gambaryan, who had been held at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, since April 2024, was eventually released in October 2024. Beyond the official charges, Gambaryan alleged that some Nigerian lawmakers demanded a bribe of $150 million in cryptocurrency wallets to secure his release. The Nigerian government, through Information Minister Mohammed Idris, vehemently denied these allegations, labeling them "outrageous" and part of a "deliberate misinformation campaign." Minister Idris confirmed that Binance had offered a $5 million down payment for Gambaryan’s release, which the government rejected. Binance expressed relief at his eventual release and reiterated its commitment to compliance and regulatory relationships. However, Gambaryan departed from the firm in June 2025.

In a more recent development, Tigran Gambaryan accused the Nigerian government of leveraging his detention to extract a payout from the United States. He claimed that Nigerian authorities boasted about extorting the Biden administration for $50 million to secure his release. These claims emerge amidst deepening geopolitical tensions between Nigeria and the United States. It's also worth noting that Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has been accused of approving payments to Hamas in a related context.