Following calls from US lawmakers urging President Joe Biden to repatriate detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, Nigeria's Information Minister Mohamed Idris has responded.
according to Idris's statementGambaryan's trial adhered to all due process at all stages.
The minister added, “Prosecutors are confident in their case based on the evidence collected.”
The minister revealed that the next court session has been set for June 20, 2024.
He noted that Binance will be given the “opportunity” to defend itself in court. Furthermore, he described the charges against Binance as “serious” financial crimes.
In contrast, US lawmakers claimed that the charges against the head of financial crimes compliance at Binance were “unfounded.”
The Nigerian minister's statements are likely to be a response to concerns raised by politicians in the United States. In a letter published on June 4, 12 American politicians expressed concerns about Gambarian's “unlawful detention” by the Nigerian government.
The letter, written mostly by members of Congress, claimed that the accusations made by Nigerian authorities were an attempt to blackmail Binance. It was also alleged that Gambarayan was denied access to his lawyers without the presence of armed guards or other Nigerian authorities.
However, the Information Minister claims that Binance was granted consular access and that all standard diplomatic protocols were followed in accordance with the rule of law.
Furthermore, the Minister explained that Gambarian was considered a flight risk and, as such, his bail was denied on May 17. This is because another Binance executive, Nadeem Angarwala, escaped from Nigerian custody in March. He is currently the subject of an Interpol Red Notice.
A Nigerian court previously rejected Gambarian's defense argument that he should not be solely responsible for Binance's operations. However, lawyers for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria (EFCC) claimed that constitutional provisions allow for the prosecution of corporate executives.
Gambarian, a US citizen, and Angarwala were arrested in February on money laundering and tax evasion charges. Angirwala illegally fled to Kenya while his colleague remained in the notorious Kuje prison.
In their letter, the lawmakers highlighted that the prison is “designed to detain ISIS fighters.” They urged President Biden to appoint a special presidential envoy for hostage affairs to handle the Gambarian case.
The letter also raised concerns about Jamabarian's health, stating that he had malaria. Furthermore, the court order to provide him with proper medical care was not followed.
As of press time, the White House had not issued an official response.
