U.S. Representatives French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan have called for the immediate release of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who remains detained in Nigeria on charges of tax evasion and other financial crimes.
Following a visit to Gambaryan at Kuje Prison on Wednesday, Hill and Houlahan expressed grave concerns over his deteriorating health and the deplorable conditions of his detention. Gambaryan, who is battling malaria and double pneumonia, has reportedly lost significant weight and is being denied adequate medical care.
Describing the prison conditions as "horrible," the lawmakers stressed the urgency of their appeal. Their plea aligns with efforts by Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki Gambaryan, who has been advocating for increased U.S. government intervention, noting the financial aid America provides to Nigeria.
In a post on his social media account, Hill detailed the visit, highlighting Gambaryan’s critical health condition and the need for humanitarian release. He stated, "Yesterday, @RepHoulahan and I visited U.S. citizen Tigran Gambaryan in Kuje Prison in Nigeria. We found him suffering from the conditions there, as he has malaria and double pneumonia, and he reports that he has lost significant weight. Even worse, he’s being denied access to adequate medical attention."
Hill also mentioned that although Nigeria had dropped tax evasion charges against Gambaryan on June 14, he is still being held on money laundering charges, which Hill believes are unfounded. "Tigran must be immediately granted a humanitarian release, the remaining charges dropped, and he must return home to America where he belongs," he said.
Representative Houlahan echoed Hill’s concerns in a video statement, urging the U.S. embassy to advocate for Gambaryan’s release due to his poor health and the severe conditions in the prison. "We did find pretty difficult conditions. He was clearly under a lot of stress and his health is not very good," Houlahan said, adding that she hopes "the full force of America" will ensure his safe return.
Earlier this month, Hill, along with other congressmen, wrote to President Joe Biden, urging him to pressure Nigeria for Gambaryan’s release. Despite mounting pressure from U.S. lawmakers and advocates, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) continues its prosecution of Gambaryan.
