Mrs Yuki Gambaryan, the wife of Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive, has issued a public plea urging the Nigerian government to release her husband due to his deteriorating health condition.
In a statement released by the Gambaryan family on Monday and made available to Vanguard, Yuki expressed grave concern, accusing the Nigerian authorities of endangering her husband's life.
She stated, "This situation is entirely unjust. My husband was unlawfully detained by the Nigerian government after being invited under false pretences for a meeting in their country. During this prolonged imprisonment, his health continues to deteriorate, and now, he is in so much pain that he can barely walk."
The incident dates back to February when Tigran Gambaryan and fellow Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla were detained in Nigeria on charges of tax evasion and money laundering. While Anjarwalla reportedly escaped, Gambaryan has since faced repeated court appearances.
Yuki Gambaryan also called for U.S. government intervention, stating, "The U.S. Government must do more to help Tigran. I urge them to use every available tool to free an innocent American who is at risk of permanent damage."
She further criticized recent denials from Nigerian authorities regarding her husband's health issues, revealing that prison officials had withheld his medical records for months. "The truth is that the prison has withheld his medical records for months, and even the partial records they finally released today say that Tigran needs surgery. They cannot keep playing games with my husband's life like this. This entire situation is inhumane and degrading, and I am fed up. There must be consequences for this disregard of law and human rights."
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Reports indicate that hearings resumed in Tigran Gambaryan's trial in Nigeria on Monday. According to the statement, his lawyers have voiced serious concerns about his health, including a herniated disc, pneumonia, malaria, and tonsillitis. The deteriorating conditions at Kuje prison have reportedly hampered their ability to adequately prepare for his trial.
"Tigran was denied the use of a wheelchair to enter the court and had to struggle on crutches, visibly in pain and distressed. He broke down crying in court," the statement added. His lawyers have filed a new bail application on medical grounds, emphasizing that they have been blocked from meeting with him to prepare for the trial. Despite the EFCC prosecutor opposing the bail application and claiming that Gambaryan is not in ill health, partial medical records provided by the authorities suggest that urgent surgery is needed. However, key elements of his medical record, including an MRI scan, remain missing.
Contradictorily, the EFCC prosecution also alleges that Gambaryan is refusing treatment. The judge is expected to continue hearing the bail application and trial proceedings on September 4th.
In a direct plea to the judge, Tigran Gambaryan stated that he is not receiving proper medical care in prison and is being denied basic rights, including access to legal counsel and embassy representatives. In response, the judge ordered that Gambaryan be allowed to use a wheelchair.
