Tigran Gambaryan, a senior executive at Binance facing money laundering charges, has raised serious allegations of mistreatment by the Nigerian government.

In a video that went viral on Monday, shared by SYMFONI, Gambaryan, who was seen using crutches, claimed that staff of the Nigeria Correctional Service had deliberately neglected him on direct orders from government officials.

“This is messed up. He was told not to assist me. This is a government directive. It’s all for show – I am an innocent man,” Gambaryan lamented in the footage.

The accusations surface after the embattled executive was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday. Gambaryan has been at the centre of a legal dispute, with his case receiving widespread attention.

On August 28, 2024, his legal representative, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mark Mordi, applied for bail on his behalf.

However, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ekene Iheanacho, opposed the bail application.

Iheanacho argued that Gambaryan’s health condition, which he claims as a reason for bail, is not a new development.

“My Lord, I don’t wish to delve too deeply into this issue. The defendant has been living with this spinal (disk) condition for the past 12 years, long before his arrival in Nigeria. It’s not a recent ailment,” Iheanacho stated during the hearing.

Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, also spoke out against the treatment her husband is receiving, calling the situation “entirely unjust.” In a previous statement, she revealed that Gambaryan was detained unlawfully after being invited to Nigeria under false pretences for a meeting.

The legal battle dates back to earlier this year when, in April, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ruled that Gambaryan should remain in custody at Kuje prison while awaiting the outcome of his bail application.

This situation has escalated since February, when Gambaryan and a fellow Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were arrested by Nigerian authorities. Anjarwalla, who is currently at large, along with Gambaryan, faces charges related to money laundering and terrorism financing.

The case has attracted significant attention both within Nigeria and internationally, raising concerns about legal procedures and treatment of foreign nationals in Nigerian custody.