Ex-IRS Chief Calls Detained Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan a Hostage Amid Dire Prison Conditions in Nigeria

Ex-IRS Chief Calls Detained Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan a Hostage Amid Dire Prison Conditions in Nigeria

Former IRS Chief of Investigations, Richard Weber, has raised serious concerns about the imprisonment of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, calling him a "hostage" in Nigeria’s Kuje prison. Detained since February 2024, Gambaryan was arrested on tax evasion and money laundering charges, though Weber and others in the crypto community question the legitimacy of his arrest, emphasizing his innocence.

Gambaryan Held in Nigerian Prison Under Dire Conditions

Tigran Gambaryan, a former law enforcement official and current compliance chief at Binance, was detained after traveling to Nigeria for discussions on digital assets policy. Weber described Kuje prison, where Gambaryan is being held, as a facility that houses some of the "worst" criminals, including terrorists, and stressed that Gambaryan is wrongly imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Weber urged the U.S. government to secure Gambaryan’s release so he could return to his wife, Yuki, and their children in California.

Gambaryan’s health has deteriorated significantly during his imprisonment, suffering from malaria, double pneumonia, and complications related to a herniated disc. Footage from a September 2024 court hearing showed him struggling to walk, further highlighting his deteriorating physical condition.

Political Motivations Behind the Arrest?

Many within the crypto community, including U.S. lawmaker French Hill (R-AR), believe that Gambaryan is being used as a "pawn" in Nigeria’s political landscape, questioning the validity of the charges against him. His wife, Yuki Gambaryan, has also spoken out about her husband's ordeal, calling his imprisonment a gross injustice and pleading for his release.