Gambaryan: Biden calls to thank Tinubu for release of Binance Executive

President Joe Biden has thanked President Bola Tinubu for the release of Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance Holdings who was on trial in Nigeria for alleged money laundering and currency speculations.

Biden conveyed his appreciation to the Nigerian leader during a phone call on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

The development has been confirmed by governments of the two nations as Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar briefed journalists at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday about the details of the conversation.

Tuggar said that the two leaders also discussed areas of partnership and cooperation including the issue of security in Africa and in particular, West Africa.

“The two leaders exchanged pleasantries and President Biden preceded to thank President Tinubu for his partnership and for Nigeria’s partnership in particular the collaboration between the two countries with regards to our law enforcement and law enforcement agencies as well as the release of one of the suspects of the cryptocurrency exchange company (Binance),” the Minister said.

He stressed that the due process was strictly adhered to in the release of the Binance executive.

In a post on the official X account of the President Of the United States (POTUS), Biden also confirmed that he put a call through to President Tinubu to express appreciation for Gabbaryan’s release.

The US President also expressed condolences on recent flooding incidents that impacted several parts of Nigeria.

“Earlier, I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria to express my condolences on the floods impacting his country and my appreciation for his leadership in securing the humanitarian release of Tigran Gambaryan. We also spoke about the value of our partnership,” Biden wrote.

“President Biden offered his condolences on the recent flooding that has impacted northeastern Nigeria and underscored his appreciation for President Tinubu’s leadership in securing the release on humanitarian grounds of American citizen and former U.S. law enforcement official Tigran Gambaryan last week,” the White House also confirmed in a statement.

Gambaryan regains freedom after months in detention

Gambaryan regained freedom last week after the Federal Government dropped charges against him after months of trial for alleged money laundering.

The charges against the Binance executive, who has been in detention since April, were dropped on health grounds.

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel announced the withdrawal of the charges before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

According to the EFCC lawyer, Gambaryan was just an employee of Binance whose activities he was being prosecuted for.

Counsel to the Binance executive, Mark Mordi, concurred with the prosecution, adding that his client was not involved in Binance’s broader financial moves in the West African country.