The federal government has withdrawn all charges against Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance Holdings executive who had been detained since April and was on trial for money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed the withdrawal of charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.
Judge Emeka Nwite had previously denied Gambaryan bail on two occasions, citing concerns that he posed a flight risk.
Reports indicated that Gambaryan’s health worsened during his time in custody, with prison officials stating that he was “seriously ill.”
Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and former IRS agent, was arrested in February while visiting Nigeria to address Binance’s regulatory issues. He was accused of money laundering and operating an unlicensed financial institution.
The prosecutor clarified that Gambaryan was simply an employee of Binance and was not responsible for the company’s wider financial operations.
Mark Mordi, Gambaryan’s defence counsel and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, agreed with the prosecutor’s assessment.
It’s believed that significant diplomatic negotiations took place between Nigerian and U.S. officials to facilitate Gambaryan’s release.
U.S. lawmakers also lobbied for Gambaryan’s freedom, writing to relevant authorities urging intervention.