Tigran Gambaryan, a top compliance officer at Binance, flew to Nigeria for a business trip in late February, carrying only a small suitcase with clothes for two days.
Previously, he had left Nigeria in haste due to concerns about potential detainment by local authorities. This time, he hoped to quickly complete his trip.
However, Mr. Gambaryan is currently detained at Kuje prison in Abuja, Nigeria, without formal charges being filed against him.
After a meeting with government officials in Abuja on Feb. 26, Mr. Gambaryan and a Binance colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were taken to a guesthouse controlled by Nigerian security officials and held there for nearly a month.
Later on, Mr. Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, mysteriously escaped. Subsequently, the Nigerian government charged Mr. Gambaryan, Mr. Anjarwalla, and Binance with tax evasion and money laundering.
This information about Mr. Gambaryan’s detention in Nigeria is based on interviews with various sources familiar with the situation.
In a statement on April 3, Binance denied Mr. Gambaryan had any decision-making authority in the company and emphasized ongoing discussions with Nigerian officials.
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