Binance CEO Urges Release of Detained Colleague in Nigeria Amidst Accusations of Illegal Transactions

Binance CEO Richard Teng has publicly called for the release of colleague Tigran Gambaryan, who has been detained in Nigeria since February. Gambaryan, a compliance officer for the crypto exchange, was arrested alongside Binance's Africa regional manager, Nadeem Anjarwalla, on accusations of illegal transactions. Anjarwalla managed to escape custody in March. Teng argues that Gambaryan is innocent and was in Nigeria to participate in policy discussions, not to make decisions or negotiate. Teng also highlights Gambaryan's previous work in fighting financial crimes and his assistance in freezing and seizing over $2.2 billion worth of assets. Teng criticizes the Nigerian government for setting a dangerous precedent by detaining mid-level employees invited for collaborative meetings. He emphasizes Binance's commitment to working with regulators and enforcement agencies and restructuring the organization to improve compliance. Teng requests that Gambaryan be allowed to return home to his family, after which Binance would cooperate with Nigerian law enforcement to address any concerns. The situation began when Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission accused Binance of operating illegally, leading to the suspension of soliciting Nigerian investors. Binance took steps to address concerns related to its peer-to-peer trading platform and the country's currency crisis. However, despite turning off the platform and ending naira pair trading, Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were still detained. Teng concludes by stating that a quick resolution is necessary, and Gambaryan must be released for progress to be made.

Sources :
- TheBlock