During a recent phone call, President Joe Biden thanked Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for helping to free Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s chief of financial crime compliance. Gambaryan had spent eight months in detention in Nigeria on charges of tax evasion and money laundering, which were later dropped.
Biden expressed his appreciation for Tinubu’s initiative in securing Gambaryan’s release on humanitarian grounds during the October 29 discussion. The former IRS agent’s incarceration began when he visited Nigeria in February to discuss matters related to Binance’s business amid a crackdown on cryptocurrency activity.
While incarcerated at Kuje Prison, Gambaryan’s health appeared to drastically decline due to various illnesses, including malaria and pneumonia. Members of Congress and international observers were alarmed by his situation and urged diplomatic action on his behalf.
On October 23, the authorities withdrew the accusations against Gambaryan following a series of appeals, allowing him to depart Nigeria. As soon as he was free, he left for the United States to get medical attention.
A new bilateral working group to improve collaboration on law enforcement matters, especially those related to cryptocurrency and illegal money, was another topic of discussion between Biden and Tinubu during their call. This joint endeavor demonstrates how the United States and Nigeria continue to work together to address common global issues.
