Detained Binance Official Tigran Gambaryan Files Lawsuit Against Nigeria

According to a recent report, Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive who was among the officials currently detained, has filed a lawsuit against the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu for allegedly violating his fundamental rights.

In the first motion, dated March 18 and submitted by his lawyer, Olujoke Aliyu of Aluko and Oyebode Law Firm, Mr. Gambaryan asked Justice Inyang Ekwo for five reliefs.

Additionally, Nadeem Anjarwalla, the regional manager for Binance in Africa, who recently escaped from official custody on March 22, also filed a separate right enforcement lawsuit before Justice Ekwo.

According to the official news, first reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Messrs. Gambaryan and Anjarwalla sued the Office of NSA (ONSA) and the EFCC as first and second respondents in the cases with the filing numbers FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 and FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24.

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In his application, Mr. Gambaryan, a US citizen and a respected official of the crypto exchange platform's financial crime compliance, has requested a declaration that his arrest and the seizure of his international passport violated Sections 35(1) and (4) of the Nigerian Constitution.

He claimed the action amounted to a breach of the Constitution's fundamental right to personal liberty.

In addition, he asked for an order telling the respondents to immediately free him from their custody and return his passport for international travel.

Also, Mr. Gambaryan requested a perpetual injunction prohibiting the respondents and their agents from holding him in custody for any purpose related to Binance inquiries or investigations.

In addition to pleading with the respondents to publicly apologise to him, the official requested full compensation for the cost of the lawsuit.

In a statement in favour of the lawsuit, he identified himself as an American citizen who, in response to the ONSA and EFCC's invitation to discuss Binance-related matters in Nigeria, traveled to that country on February 26 along with Nadeem Anjarwalla, a representative of the cryptocurrency company.

In support of his eleven-point request for approval, he stated that he and his colleague, Mr. Anjarwalla, had faithfully attended the meeting.

He stated that the respondents had taken the two of them into custody following the meeting and that they had stayed there ever since. 

He went on to plead that he did not break any laws during the meeting and was not made aware in writing of any other crimes he had committed in Nigeria.

"The only reason for his detention is that the government is requesting information from Binance and making demands on the company," he said, adding that he was not a member of Binance's Board of Directors.

On Thursday, in support of Messrs. Anjarwalla and Gambaryan, T.J. Krukrubo appeared when the two suits were called.

Although the respondents were served two days ago, Nigerian Senior Advocate Mr. Krukrubo informed the court that they were not personally represented.

The senior attorney brought up the court's notice of the withdrawal of legal representation for Mr. Anjarwalla, which was filed on March 26.

Mr. Krukrubo did not provide further details regarding the applicant's disappearance, but there might have been a purpose.

Justice Ekwo said having withdrawn their legal representation, "it means that the applicant has no legal representation and requires that the matter be adjourned for the applicant to seek legal representation and for the respondents to be allowed to come to court."

The judge postponed the case until April 8 to allow for additional discussion.

Furthermore, Mr. Krukrubo stated that even though ONSA and the EFCC had received the process, they still had time to respond when the hearing in Mr. Gambaryan's lawsuit resumed.

As a result, he requested a postponement date, stating that the respondents had until Thursday of the following week to submit their applications.

As a result, Justice Ekwo postponed the decision until April 8 to provide more time.

This news was first published by NAN.