The family of Tigran Gambaryan, the Binance executive detained in Nigeria, reported that he is being denied proper access to his legal team, and his health is rapidly declining, according to an Aug. 12 statement shared with CryptoSlate.
Gambaryan, who traveled to Abuja for a meeting with Nigerian officials in February, has been in custody since Feb. 26, when the authorities confiscated his American passport. Since then, he has not seen his family—his wife and two young children.
The situation worsened when the Abuja court began its summer recess on July 16, with the next hearing set for Oct. 11. The family stated that Tigran’s legal team had been denied access to him since July 26 in violation of the Nigerian constitution.
Worsening health
The family stated that Gambaryan’s health situation was deteriorating at the Kuje prison.
CryptoSlate previously reported that Gambaryan’s health was declining after he made his last court appearance in a wheelchair. At the time, the Judge issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Abuja prison doctor Abraham Ehizojie for failing to produce the medical report and directed that Gambaryan be admitted to a hospital for proper treatment.
However, the family statement revealed that this order has yet to be implemented as the prison authorities continue to withhold his medical records.
According to the family, Gambaryan is suffering from a herniated disc that requires complex and risky surgery. He has also experienced multiple throat infections, pneumonia, and malaria while in custody, leading to the need for additional surgery to remove his tonsils.
The family continued that he is currently on blood thinners to prevent clots.
Yuki Gambaryan, Tigran’s wife, appealed to the Nigerian government to release him to receive the urgent medical care he needed. She warned that his worsening condition could result in permanent damage and impair his ability to walk.
She also highlighted the emotional impact Gambaryan’s detention has on the family. She said:
“Life is becoming harder and harder every day for all of us because of Tigran’s absence.”
