A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the United States is pressing for consular access to Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive currently held at the Kuje custodial center in Abuja. Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and Binance’s financial crimes compliance chief, was arrested in February 2024 alongside another executive, Anjarwalla, upon their arrival in Nigeria.
The arrest of Gambaryan and Anjarwalla followed an investigation allegedly linking Binance to money laundering and terrorism financing. The case has drawn significant attention, with Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja scheduled to rule on a fresh bail application for Gambaryan on October 9.
Concerns over Gambaryan’s well-being have intensified, with Binance’s Chief Executive Officer, Richard Teng, publicly calling for his release, citing deteriorating health and inadequate medical care. Gambaryan’s family has also alleged that he is being denied access to a wheelchair, further exacerbating concerns about his condition.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to a lack of authorization to discuss the matter, noted that the U.S. government is particularly focused on ensuring Gambaryan’s health is adequately addressed while he remains in custody.
“I only know that the US is concerned about the man’s health, especially now that his family has gone public in the US with the matter.
“I would not say they are lobbying, they are just concerned that they are not being granted access to the man (being a US citizen). Remember that Binance had their issue in the US as well,” the source explained.
Reacting, a retired Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico and Singapore, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, said the US request for consular access to the detained Binance executive was justifiable but should not interfere with Nigeria’s legal process.
“The US is right in requesting consular access to the detained Binance executive,” he said. “Nigeria does not interfere when Nigerians are arrested for criminal activities in the US. We allow the US legal system to proceed without interference.”
A retired Consul to Cameroon and Delegate to the World Expo and Economic Development Centre in Paris, Ambassador Rasheed Akinkuolie, emphasised the critical role of embassies in ensuring the protection of their citizens detained abroad.
He stated, “It is the right and function of every embassy to have access to detained nationals in a foreign country, regardless of the offence—be it murder or any other serious crime.
“The embassy needs to be informed to ensure that the individual is not mistreated or unjustly punished.”
Akinkuolie explained that once embassies are involved, they investigate the charges and provide legal support if necessary.
Akinkuolie stressed that embassy involvement often results in better treatment for detainees, regardless of the gravity of their offense. “When the embassy is involved, the host country becomes more cautious in their handling of the detainee.”
