Binance CEO Richard Teng has condemned the Nigerian government's harsh treatment of the exchange's American executive, Tigran Ghanbarian, who has been detained by authorities since February.
In a Sept. 3 post on X, Teng featured a video of Gambarian struggling to enter the courtroom and said:
“This inhuman treatment of Tigran must end. He must be allowed to return home to heal and be with his family.”
“I'm fucking innocent people.”
A viral video showed Gambarian limping into an Abuja courtroom on September 2. He asked for a wheelchair but prison authorities refused, leaving him dragging his left leg.
Notably, he tried to get assistance from prison officials but was refused, forcing him to rely on a single crutch.
“[The prison officer]was told not to help me. He said he had instructions. This is awful. Why can't I use a wheelchair? This is a show. I'm a completely innocent person. Why are they doing this to me?”
Observers noted that the contents of the video are consistent with concerns from Gambarian's family, who have repeatedly said his health was deteriorating while in Nigerian custody.
On September 2, Gambarian's lawyers filed a new bail application on medical grounds. They asked the judge to release him so he can receive treatment for ailments he suffered in prison, including malaria, pneumonia, tonsillitis, and a herniated disk that left him in severe pain and nearly immobile.
However, Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opposed Gambarian's bail application, arguing that he was not in poor health.
The judge later ordered that Gambarian be allowed to use a wheelchair, and the trial is scheduled to resume on September 4.
