The Nigerian government has officially dismissed all charges against Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance Holdings executive, who has been in detention since April facing money laundering accusations, according to Premium Times.
During a session at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, a lawyer for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the withdrawal of the charges. This hearing was scheduled just two days before the trial judge’s previously set date of October 25, suggesting a deliberate attempt to minimize public attention.
The lawyer clarified that Gambaryan, a US citizen, was simply an employee of Binance and not responsible for the company’s wider financial activities. Mark Mordi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing Gambaryan, concurred with the prosecution’s statement.
Wednesday’s proceedings followed extensive diplomatic efforts over recent months between officials from Nigeria and the United States aimed at securing Gambaryan’s release. He had previously been denied bail twice, with the judge citing concerns over potential flight risks.
In the lead-up to the hearing, several US lawmakers advocated for Gambaryan’s release, reaching out to relevant authorities for intervention. On October 11, Judge Emeka Nwite denied his second bail request, stating that health issues presented by Gambaryan were not compelling enough for release. The judge had originally scheduled a trial continuation for October 18, but Gambaryan did not appear in court.
