Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. executive at cryptocurrency exchange Binance, is reportedly facing tax evasion charges in Nigeria, and the case has been adjourned until April 19.
Gambayan remains in Nigerian custody, but his case has been adjourned for two weeks as authorities continue to bring charges against the cryptocurrency exchange and two executives, Bloomberg reported on April 4. Gambaryan came to Nigeria in February along with Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla following accusations that the exchange manipulated the country's fiat currency, the naira.
Binance announced on March 5 that it intended to cease all naira trading, effectively exiting the market for Nigerian users. Gambayan and Anjarwala were in Nigeria at the time of the announcement and were detained by authorities. Reports say they face charges including tax evasion and money laundering. Nigerian officials had moved to bring charges against the exchange and Gambayan (reportedly delayed until April 8), but Anjarwalla reportedly escaped detention on March 22 and was able to board a flight from the capital, Abuja. Gambayan's wife started a petition calling for him to be brought back to the United States, which had 1,719 signatures at press time.
"It is extremely ironic that he has been accused of a crime that he has been fighting his whole life," Yoki Gambarian said in the petition. "My husband is an innocent man who was a part of someone else's game. piece."
Binance said in an April 3 blog post that Gambaryan had “no decision-making authority at the company” and asked him not to be held responsible for the exchange’s activities in Nigeria. Cointelegraph reached out to Binance for comment but had not received a response as of press time.
Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao remains in the United States after pleading guilty to a felony as part of a $4.3 billion settlement with authorities. He is expected to be sentenced on April 30.
