U.S Lawmakers Pressurise FG To Release Binance Chief

Two United States Lawmakers French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan have called for the release of detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan.

Gambaryan is currently detained in Nigeria on charges of tax evasion and other financial crimes.

The lawmakers made the appeal after visiting Gambaryan at Kuje prison on Wednesday.

According to the lawmakers, the detained Binance executive’s health was deteriorating and needed urgent medical attention.

Gambaryan was said to be suffering from malaria and double pneumonia, and has reportedly lost significant weight and is being denied adequate medical attention.

The legislators emphasised the urgency of their request, describing the prison conditions as “horrible.”

Hill while giving the account of his visit on his X page on Thursday, highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, “Yesterday, @RepHoulahan and I visited with US citizen Tigran Gambaryan in Kuje Prison in Nigeria. We found him suffering from the conditions there, as he has malaria and double pneumonia, and he reports that he has lost significant weight.

“Even worse, he’s being denied access to adequate medical attention.

“Although I am pleased that Nigeria dropped tax evasion charges against Tigran on 6/14, it’s my view that he’s being wrongfully detained on charges related to money laundering,” he said.

Hill further stated, “Tigran must be immediately granted a humanitarian release, the remaining charges dropped, and he must return home to America where he belongs.”

Similarly, Representative Houlahan in a video said they have requested the U.S. embassy to push for Gambaryan’s humanitarian release due to his poor health and the severe conditions in the prison.

“We did find pretty difficult conditions. He was clearly under a lot of stress and his health is not very good,” Houlahan said.

She continued that she hopes “we will be able to put the full force of America behind us to make sure that he is returned home safely.”

Previously, a group of U.S. congressmen, including Hill, wrote to President Joe Biden on June 4, 2024, urging him to pressure Nigeria for Gambaryan’s release.