The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected Tigran Gambaryan’s new bail application. Gambaryan, a senior executive at Binance, has been held since February 2024 on charges of money laundering. Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the court’s decision on October 11, 2024, after intense arguments between Gambaryan’s defense team and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding his health and the justification for his ongoing detention.
Local sources report that Gambaryan’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mark Mordi, applied for bail due to his deteriorating health condition while in custody. They argued that Gambaryan suffers from a herniated disc and requires surgery, along with psychiatric care for depression and anxiety. The defense maintained that treatment for these conditions is inadequate in Nigeria’s detention facilities and requested a six-week bail to seek specialized care abroad.
In a previous hearing, Mordi presented evidence showing Gambaryan’s declining health since his detention began, urging immediate medical intervention. He requested the court grant bail under “liberal terms” or a six-week period for necessary medical treatment outside Nigeria. However, the EFCC, represented by Ekele Iheanacho, opposed the bail, claiming Gambaryan’s health concerns were exaggerated. They presented medical reports from Nigerian facilities proving his condition could be managed locally and accused Gambaryan of refusing medical treatment as a tactic to gain bail.
Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that the fresh bail application constituted an abuse of court process since an earlier application citing health concerns is still under appeal. The judge reviewed medical evidence from both parties, concluding that Gambaryan’s health can be managed within Nigeria. Despite this, the judge ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service to refer Gambaryan to a standard hospital in Abuja for further evaluation, if necessary, under security supervision.
The court has scheduled additional hearings, with Gambaryan remaining in detention as his legal and health issues continue.
Twitter update: Binance exec Tigran Gambaryan submitted a new bail application on medical grounds, but Nigeria’s economic crimes agency opposed it.
