Sixteen members of the United States House of Representatives have appealed to President Joe Biden, requesting his intervention in securing the return of detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan from Nigeria to the United States.
Gambaryan was apprehended by the Federal Government in February. Initially, he was detained at a guest house before formal charges were filed against him and Binance in an Abuja court in April. Alongside the company, he faces accusations of offenses such as non-payment of value-added tax and corporate income tax, as well as complicity in assisting customers in evading taxes through its platform.
“On behalf of Mr. Gambaryan, his family, and concerned Americans, we, the undersigned, urgently request and strongly encourage the transfer of his case to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs,” the Congress members wrote in their Tuesday letter, as published by Fox Business correspondent Eleanor Terrett on her X handle on Wednesday.
According to the lawmakers, Gambaryan qualified as a “U.S. citizen wrongfully detained by a foreign government” and his detention has been “marked by excessive and harsh treatment.”
The development reveals the U.S. office co-ordinates efforts on overseas hostage-related matters.
“Mr. Gambaryan’s health and well-being are in danger, and we fear for his life. Immediate action is essential to ensure his safety and preserve his life.”We must act swiftly before it is too late,” wrote the group of House lawmakers, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas.
They emphasized that Gambaryan, Binance’s chief of financial compliance, has been detained “unjustly” since late February, following the Nigerian government’s invitation for discussions regarding the cryptocurrency company’s operations in the country.
The legislators stated that the Nigerian government effectively took Mr. Gambaryan “hostage” and therefore requires assistance from his government to secure his release.
They underscored his previous role as a former IRS agent, where he played a significant part in leading some of the nation’s most notable cyber investigations, resulting in the seizure of $4.725 billion in illicit funds.
The communication from the House members to the President’s office represents the most prominent action concerning Gambaryan’s situation, marking a significant development subsequent to his family’s ongoing pleas to the government for assistance.
Gambaryan’s legal representatives previously communicated in a letter to the Nigerian Federal High Court that their client was “severely unwell” and urgently required comprehensive medical attention.
Various sources reported that Gambaryan collapsed during a court hearing regarding allegations of his involvement in Binance’s breaches of Nigerian laws.
Justice Emeka Nwite ordered Gambaryan to be transferred to a hospital, but his family disclosed last month that he had not been relocated to one.
Furthermore, they revealed suspicions that the Binance executive was suffering from malaria and a severe throat infection.
A spokesperson for Gambaryan’s family, quoted by FOX Business, stated that following a brief hospitalization, Gambaryan has been returned to prison, with his health rapidly deteriorating due to inadequate treatment.