U.S. Lawmakers Urge Biden to Intervene in Binance Executive’s Detention in Nigeria

A group of U.S. lawmakers, led by Michael McCaul, the House Foreign Affairs Committee chair, have penned a letter urging President Joe Biden to intervene in the detention of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan in Nigeria.

In the letter addressed to Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger D. Carstens, they stressed the urgency of treating Gambaryan’s case as a hostage situation.

The lawmakers expressed concerns over Gambaryan’s safety, emphasizing the need for immediate action to secure his release and ensure his well-being, fearing for his life if swift intervention is not taken.

Gambaryan and another company executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were detained in Nigeria after being summoned by the government to address issues with the cryptocurrency exchange Binance.

Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and head of compliance at Binance, has been in Nigerian custody for nearly three months, while Anjarwalla managed to escape.

The detained executive’s family has raised alarm over his deteriorating health, noting that Gambaryan collapsed in a Nigerian court in late May.

Binance and Gambaryan face charges of money laundering and tax evasion in Nigeria, which the U.S. lawmakers argue are unfounded and part of an attempt to extort the company.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee chair and 11 other leaders are pushing for Biden’s intervention to bring Gambaryan back to the U.S. and address the alleged unjust detention and harsh treatment he has faced.