Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive, has taken legal action against two Nigerian agencies. He accuses them of violating his fundamental human rights. On Thursday, the Premium Times, a local media outlet, reported that Gambaryan filed the suit against the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on March 18.
Simultaneously, Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, has also lodged an individual lawsuit to enforce his rights with Justice Ekwo. Anjarwalla evaded lawful detention on Mar 22 and is pursuing the same legal remedies as Gambaryan.
The lawsuits follow the detention of both executives and the confiscation of their passports in February. This action was part of a broader crackdown on crypto exchanges in Nigeria. Nigerian authorities alleged that Binance violated local tax regulations by failing to provide proper documentation (VAT invoices) and hindering user tax collection.
This crackdown was related to the frequent depreciation of the Nigerian Naira compared to the US dollar.
Gambaryan Petitions Nigerian Court Over Binance Detention
According to a report, Gambaryan, a US citizen, contended that Nigerian authorities violated his constitutional right to personal liberty by detaining him and confiscating his passport. He filed a petition demanding his immediate release, passport return, and a court order prohibiting future detention related to Binance. Gambaryan also sought a public apology and compensation for legal expenses.
In a supporting statement, Gambaryan clarified that his sole purpose for visiting Nigeria on Feb 26 was to attend a meeting requested by the authorities to discuss Binance-related matters. He asserted that he did not commit any offence during the meeting and received no prior written notification of alleged wrongdoing in Nigeria.
During Thursday’s court hearing, a senior Nigerian lawyer represented both executives but informed the court of a previously filed withdrawal notice for Anjarwalla on Mar 26. Due to the lack of official legal representation, Justice Echo postponed the case until April 8, allowing the applicants to secure counsel and giving respondents more preparation time.
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