Binance Financial Crimes Compliance Officer Tigran Gambaryan has taken legal action against the Nigerian government for allegedly violating his basic human rights.
Request for apology and return of passport
Gambarian’s lawsuit seeks the immediate return of the confiscated passports, along with an apology from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, Tigran Gambaryan, has launched a legal action against the Nigerian government, alleging violations of his basic human rights. Gambarian’s lawyers have filed an application in Nigeria’s Federal High Court demanding that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) issue a public apology for Gambarian’s detention.
The motion argues that Gambarian’s detention and confiscation of his passport upon his arrival in Nigeria in February violates the country’s constitution, which guarantees individuals’ right to personal liberty.
Gambarian’s legal motion claims the Nigerian government is using his continued detention as leverage to put pressure on Binance. Nigerian authorities claim they could have communicated with Binance through alternative channels rather than simply detaining Gambarian while he was attending the meeting. The motion also calls for the immediate return of Gambarian’s passport and a public apology.
During the court proceedings, Gambarian’s lawyer informed Justice Inyang Ekwo that the application had been forwarded to the accused, giving him time to respond. Lawyers requested an adjournment to allow ONSA and EFCC to respond, which the judge granted, rescheduling the case to April 8.
Speculation during legal proceedings
There is speculation within the Nigerian cryptocurrency community regarding the motivations behind Gambarian’s legal action and the potential outcome of the case. While some have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of seeking legal relief in Nigerian courts, others have questioned the timing of the lawsuit and speculated whether the associate’s escape prompted the legal action.
Gambaryan, a US citizen, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, who holds both British and Kenyan citizenship, reportedly arrived in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on February 25. Following their detention, the court ordered the EFCC to detain Binance executives for 14 days and ordered Binance to provide the government with access to data and information on Nigerian traders using its platform.
The Federal High Court is expected to indict Binance and its two executives on April 4, and the government plans to seek Interpol’s support to recapture Anjarwala for trial.
ALSO READ: Nigerian Court Demands Binance User Data Amid Regulatory Crackdown