Recent court footage has put Tigran Gambaryan’s struggles on full display.

The Binance executive appeared in court for the resumption of his trial, which has faced another delay.

Gambaryan is making yet another attempt for reprieve.

For the better part of the past six months, Tigran Gambaryan, chief financial crime compliance officer at Binance, a U.S. citizen and celebrated former IRS Special Agent, has been forced to live under less-than-ideal conditions in one of Nigeria’s most notorious prisons for alleged crimes committed by his employers.

During this period, Gambaryan’s health has emerged as a pressing concern amid reported bouts of malaria and pneumonia, as well as a rapidly deteriorating spinal condition that has impacted his mobility—all reportedly compounded by the continued negligence of prison officials. Recent court footage has put the Binance executive’s struggles on full display.

Binance’s Gambaryan Left To Struggle in Pain

“This is f*****d up!” Gambaryan repeated exasperatedly in recent court footage obtained by a local news outlet that has garnered attention online. Sponsored

The outbursts came as the Binance executive’s efforts to get support to walk were continually rebuffed by a prison official. 

"He was told not to help me! This is f*****d up! Why can't I use a goddamned wheelchair! This is a show!" Gambaryan cried out to onlookers and journalists.

Gambaryan reportedly suffers from a herniated disk, which has deteriorated rapidly in Nigerian prison to the point of requiring immediate surgery. In apparent pain, the Binance executive struggled to move, dragging one leg and trying his best to hop along with the other.

“I’m a f*****g innocent person, and you are doing this to me!” Gambaryan pleaded as he struggled, nudged to keep walking by the official, he retorted, “I can’t f*****g walk! This is f*****d up! I am a fucking human!”

These pleas, however, fell on deaf ears as the official maintained that the Binance executive could walk.

"You can walk, manage yourself, just manage yourself," the official pressed.

After taking a few steps, Gambaryan defeatedly argued, “I’m not f*****g ok,” as he took respite at a nearby wall.

The recent footage emerged as Gambaryan appeared in court on Monday, September 2, for the resumption of proceedings in a money laundering case brought by Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), against him and Binance. Both Gambaryan and Binance have denied the charges. 

Commenting on the recent footage, a Binance spokesperson asserted that the firm was “extremely distressed” by it in a statement shared with DailyCoin.

“We are extremely distressed by the video of Tigran in court yesterday. This video is just a snapshot of Tigran’s current reality. His health is rapidly declining and we are deeply concerned about the long term consequences of this unjust detention,” the spokesperson stressed.

In addition to concerns about Gambaryan’s health, the exchange reiterated its stance that the Nigerian government’s decision to hold the executive was unnecessary.

“Nigeria does not need to keep Tigran in order for us to settle any alleged past issues. We continue to implore the Government of Nigeria to let Tigran return home and let us continue in our engagements. Our recent resolutions with Brazil and India demonstrate how historical issues can be resolved through constructive dialogue and adherence to legal standards. This is the international standard of doing business”

Meanwhile, on Monday, Gambaryan’s trial again faced delays as yet another government agency chose to rebuff court orders.

Government Agencies Continue To Frustrate Binance and Gambaryan’s Case

Monday’s hearing, as observed by my colleague, DailyCoin reporter Grace Abidemi, was supposed to see the continuation of the cross-examination of Olubukola Akinwunmi, head of payments policy and regulation at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), called by the prosecution to speak on the nature of Binance’s operations in Nigeria and claims that these operations interfered with naira price discovery.

The judge was, however, forced to adjourn the hearing to Wednesday, September 4, as the defense noted that documents requested from the CBN to aid the cross-examination had yet to be provided. 

At the same time, the defense also pointed out that they had obtained a subpoena for CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso to be present during Monday’s proceedings. Still, neither the governor nor a representative of the governor showed up.

The CBN’s recent actions represent the latest in a growing list of instances in which government officials have rebuffed court orders with impunity in the case. The Nigerian Correctional Service has also continued to disregard orders to present Gambaryan’s medical records.

Amid his reported worsening health condition and the continued case delays, the Binance executive is looking to take another shot at a reprieve from incarceration.

Gambaryan Pushes for Bail Again

During Monday’s proceedings, Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Modi, revealed that they had filed a bail application for the Binance executive on August 28 on medical grounds. 

This is the second time Gambaryan has pushed for bail in the case. In the first instance, the Binance executive was denied after being deemed a flight risk, even though his travel documents remain in the custody of the country’s National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

As with the first instance, the Binance executive again faces resistance from the EFCC. The agency argues that Gambaryan’s health woes are exaggerated. At the same time, they claim that he has been afforded access to healthcare, contrary to the claims that his family has made.

The EFCC’s arguments have, however, been met with fierce opposition from Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki Gambaryan. In a statement shared with DailyCoin on Monday, Yuki described the EFCC’s claims as “deeply concerning” as she called for consequences for harm against her husband.

"I am also deeply concerned about recent statements from Nigerian authorities denying Tigran's health issues. The truth is that the prison has withheld his medical records for months, and even the partial records they finally released today say that Tigran needs surgery. They cannot keep playing games with my husband's life like this. This entire situation is inhumane and degrading, and I am fed up. There must be consequences for this disregard of law and human rights," the statement read.

On the Flipside 

The judge ordered Correctional Service officers to provide Gambaryan with a wheelchair on Monday. Whether this order will be obeyed, however, remains to be seen.

Binance is now the sole defendant in a separate tax evasion case after the firm appointed an agent in the country to receive processes on their behalf. Many had hoped that the EFCC would follow in Nigeria’s tax agency’s footsteps and amend its money laundering charges, but these hopes have yet to materialize.

Why This Matters

Tigran Gambaryan has spent over six months in Nigerian detention. The saga continues to take a toll on the Binance executive and his family while setting a worrying precedent for U.S. crypto workers abroad.

Read this to find out how the former IRS Special Agent found himself in this condition:Binance’s Gambaryan Still Detained After 6 Months: Where Are the Answers?

See how global crypto funds fared last week:Crypto Funds Shed $305M as Macro Data Dampens Fed Rate Cut Expectations