The United States government on Thursday deployed a medically-equipped plane to retrieve Tigran Gambaryan, an executive at Binance Holdings Limited, from Nigeria.
As reported by The New York Times, Gambaryan departed Nigeria after the Federal Government decided to drop the money laundering charges against him.
On Wednesday, the Federal Government withdrew the money laundering allegations against Gambaryan, who had been detained, citing his ill health and diplomatic efforts.
Gambaryan had been in custody since February due to a governmental crackdown on the exchange, which involved accusations of manipulating the naira. He was not the only one affected, as Binance’s regional manager, Nadeem Anjarwalla, was also taken into custody.
In March, Anjarwalla successfully escaped from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) custody, leaving Gambaryan to confront the legal issues alone.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that Gambaryan’s release illustrates the commitment of both nations to work together effectively.
He stated, “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 to receive the specialized medical care he requires. This positive outcome demonstrates the strength of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership and highlights our shared commitment to working together to advance our common interests. Our close law enforcement cooperation remains a cornerstone of our bilateral relationship, and the United States is committed to working closely with the Government of Nigeria to address mutual concerns and prioritize the safety and well-being of our citizens.”
In a similar vein, Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor at The White House, expressed satisfaction over the facilitation of 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 so that he can receive needed medical attention,” his statement read.
He further mentioned, “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 resulted in this step and look forward to working closely with them on the many areas of cooperation and collaboration critical to the bilateral partnership between our two countries.”
This coordinated effort between the U.S. and Nigeria highlights a significant diplomatic engagement and underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing complex legal and humanitarian issues, reinforcing the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
