The United States dispatched a plane equipped with medical supplies on Thursday to evacuate Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance Holdings Limited executive, from Nigeria following the Federal Government’s dismissal of money laundering charges against him.
According to The New York Times, Gambaryan’s release came after diplomatic intervention and a health-related appeal, allowing him to leave the country safely.
Entrepreneurng reports that Nigerian authorities withdrew the charges against Gambaryan on Wednesday, citing his health concerns.
Gambaryan, detained since February, faced allegations involving the manipulation of the naira during a government-led investigation into Binance.
Another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, was also detained but reportedly escaped from custody in March, leaving Gambaryan to face the charges alone.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the Nigerian government’s cooperation in Gambaryan’s release, calling it a testament to the strong partnership between the two nations.
The statement reads: “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.”
Similarly, the national security advisor at The White House, Jake Sullivan, expressed that they were “pleased” to have facilitated 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,” the statement reads.
“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 diplomatic move reflects the continuing cooperation between Nigeria and the U.S., reinforcing their commitment to address shared concerns and uphold the safety of their citizens.
