• Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, has turned down a fresh bail application for the detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, who sought release on medical grounds.

• The judge emphasised that Gambaryan’s health was being managed and cared for by “renowned Nigerian medical experts.” 

• The trial was adjourned to October 18, 2024, and November 22 and 25, 2024, for continuation.

Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi (SAN), claimed that his client’s health was in a ‘critical’ state, necessitating immediate surgery and psychiatric treatment. Mordi requested a six-week bail to allow Gambaryan to receive medical treatment outside of prison, also stating that the current care in custody was inadequate.

However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, opposed the application, claiming the severity of the condition was being overstated. The EFCC counsel further mentioned that Gambaryan could receive adequate treatment at the Kuje Correctional Facility.

He also mentioned that the executive had already been taken to several reputable medical institutions, where medical reports indicated that he had refused treatment and that his condition was being appropriately managed.

Justice Nwite then ruled and dismissed the bail application, mentioning there was no evidence before the court that Gambaryan’s health could not be handled. Nwite also said Gambaryan had abused judicial processes by not withdrawing an appeal against a previous bail ruling in May.

However, he ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service “to refer Gambaryan to a standard hospital in Abuja for treatment for three days to two weeks under security supervision.”

Following the ruling, a family spokesperson expressed disappointment in the decision, claiming that Gambaryan did not travel to Nigeria to make decisions and that there was no good reason to keep him in custody.

Meanwhile, in September 2024, when the EFCC claimed that the executive’s health was not as bad as it appeared, Binance responded by highlighting a video of the executive in pain and distress, adding that he was denied the use of a wheelchair, exacerbating his suffering.

The Binance executive has been detained since February 2024, and while this is not the first time he applied for bail, the EFCC had said he poses a flight risk seeing his colleague escape custody.

Moreover, efforts to appeal for the executive’s release and return home have come from the exchange, Binance, members of the US Congress, and Binance CEO Richard Teng. But, anticipation builds about when the Nigeria and Binance saga will end.