Tigran Gambaryan, the head of financial crime compliance at Binance, has taken legal action against Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging infringement of his fundamental rights.
Reports indicate that on February 28, Gambaryan, alongside Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, was detained by Nigerian authorities after responding to an invitation from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and EFCC to discuss the company’s operations in Nigeria. Following their detention, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla had their passports seized by ONSA.
However, on March 25, Anjarwalla managed to escape custody and fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport. Anjarwalla had reportedly fallen ill while in detention on March 12.
In a legal move dated March 18 and filed by his lawyer, Olujoke Aliyu from Aluko and Oyebode Law Firm, Gambaryan sought redress before Justice Inyang Ekwo, presenting five reliefs in his originating motion.
Both Gambaryan and Anjarwalla filed separate right enforcement suits before Justice Ekwo, suing ONSA and EFCC as first and second respondents, seeking similar relief.
Gambaryan, a US citizen, sought a declaration that his detention and the seizure of his international travel passport violated Section 35 (1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended), thereby infringing upon his fundamental right to personal liberty.
Additionally, he requested an order for his immediate release from custody and the return of his passport, along with an injunction preventing further detention related to any investigation into or demands from Binance. Gambaryan also demanded a public apology and full indemnity for the costs incurred.
In support of his suit, Gambaryan emphasized that he and Anjarwalla had attended the meeting with ONSA and EFCC as requested, and had not committed any offenses during the meeting or elsewhere in Nigeria.
He asserted, “The only reason for his detention is because the government is requesting information from Binance and making demands on the company,” clarifying that he was not a member of Binance’s board of directors.