On Thursday, the U.S. deployed a plane equipped with medical supplies to evacuate Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance Holdings Limited, from Nigeria.
According to The New York Times, Gambaryan departed after the Federal Government dropped money laundering charges against him. The FG withdrew the charges against Gambaryan due to his ill health and diplomatic intervention. He has been detained since February amid a government crackdown on the exchange for alleged manipulation of the naira. Alongside him, Binance regional manager Nadeem Anjarwalla was also detained.
In March, Anjarwalla managed to escape from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), leaving Gambaryan to face the charges alone.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Gambaryan’s release underscores the commitment of both nations to work together effectively.
The statement reads: “The United States thanks the Government of Nigeria for releasing U.S. citizen Tigran Gambaryan on medical grounds, allowing him to return to the United States for the specialized medical care he requires. This positive outcome demonstrates the strength of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership and highlights our shared commitment to advancing our common interests. Our close law enforcement cooperation remains a cornerstone of our bilateral relationship, and the United States is committed to collaborating closely with the Government of Nigeria to address mutual concerns and prioritize the safety and well-being of our citizens.”
Similarly, Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor at The White House, expressed his satisfaction at facilitating Gambaryan’s release.
“I am pleased that American citizen and former U.S. law enforcement official Tigran Gambaryan has been released on humanitarian grounds by the Nigerian Government and is on his way back to the United States for necessary medical attention,” the statement said. “As soon as we secured Mr. Gambaryan’s release, I called his wife Yuki to share this good news. I am grateful to my Nigerian colleagues and partners for the productive discussions that have led to this step and look forward to working closely with them on the numerous areas of cooperation and collaboration essential to the bilateral partnership between our two countries.”
