The Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance and an American citizen, Tigran Gambaryan has departed Nigeria following the dismissal of money laundering charges against him by the Federal Government.
This decision comes after Gambaryan endured eight months of detention, during which his health reportedly deteriorated severely.
The world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, confirmed Gambaryan's departure in a statement released on Thursday October 24.
The statement highlighted that Gambaryan was released from Kuje prison and is now returning to the United States to receive much-needed medical care. "Today, American citizen Tigran Gambaryan left Nigeria to return home to his family after eight months of unlawful detention," the statement read, emphasizing the toll his imprisonment had taken on his health.
Gambaryan's wife, Yuki, expressed profound relief at her husband's release, acknowledging the efforts of the US government in securing his freedom.
"It is a huge relief that this day has finally come. The past eight months have been a living nightmare," she stated, signifying the emotional and physical challenges faced during this period.
Initially, Gambaryan, along with Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan colleague, was accused by Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of laundering $35 million. While Anjarwalla managed to escape custody earlier this year,
Gambaryan was arraigned in court. The EFCC cited Gambaryan's declining health as a reason for not proceeding with the case at the last adjourned date, leading to the eventual dismissal of charges.
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