A Nigerian court has postponed the trial of detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan after he was unable to attend due to health issues. Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and head of financial crime compliance at Binance, has been in custody since late February and faces charges of laundering over $35 million. Both Gambaryan and Binance have denied the allegations.
Federal High Court judge Emeka Nwite in Abuja rescheduled the trial for October 25 to allow Gambaryan to seek medical treatment. This marks the second time Gambaryan has been denied bail, with the judge citing the prison’s capability to meet his medical needs. Gambaryan has requested release on health grounds, emphasizing the necessity of surgery outside of prison.
In August, Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, expressed concerns about her husband’s deteriorating health in detention, warning that it could lead to permanent damage and impact his mobility. She has been advocating for his release and remains determined to continue the fight for his freedom.
In addition to the charges against Gambaryan, Binance is facing separate allegations of tax evasion, which the exchange also denies. Following a nationwide crackdown on cryptocurrency exchanges, Binance has halted all transactions and trading in Nigeria’s naira, with authorities blaming such platforms for contributing to a black market for foreign currency.
