“Prolong detention of Binance’s Tigran Gambaryan threatens United States relations with Nigeria” – U.S. lawmaker – Technext

A United States lawmaker, Representative French Hill has indicated that the longtime detention of Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan in Nigeria could negatively impact the bilateral relations between the two countries.

According to a video posted on the lawmaker’s X (formerly Twitter) account recently, Hill expressed his dismay over the prolonged detention by a country he considers an ally to the US. He also urged the United States President, Joe Biden, to push for his release. 

Recall that Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive has been in detention since February and his health has reportedly deteriorated in the infamous Kuje prison where he’s being incarcerated. He has now spent over six months in detention facing charges of tax evasion and other financial crimes and Justice Emeka Nwite of Abuja High Court has fixed October 9 to rule on the bail application on medical grounds brought before the court by his lawyers.

Read also: Court adjourns Tigran Gambaryan’s bail application hearing to October 9

French Hill intervention is coming as Tigran Gambaryan’s case continues to draw attention across the world, with many calling for his release. 

French Hill advocates for Tigran Gambaryan 

French Hill, a lawmaker representing Arkansas and who serves as Vice Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and Chairman of the subcommittee overseeing digital assets and financial technology expressed his worries about the continued detention of Binance Executive Tigran Gambaryan in Nigeria.

According to the US lawmaker in the House of Representatives, James Hill, the long-time detention could negatively impact the bilateral relations between Nigeria and the US. In a video interview posted on his verified X handle, Hill engaged with the US Under Secretary for Management, John Bass.

He asked Abbas:

“In this administration, we have seen a lot of action on Americans wrongfully detained abroad. And they frequently get a designation. But suddenly here we have a country like Nigeria which we removed from the list in the Biden administration on religious freedom issues; signed a commercial and investment partnership with in the middle of this personal tragedy, detaining an American citizen indefinitely.”

He further pressed:

“What do you think the sticking point is, for getting Gambaryan home to his family?”

James Hill describes Nigeria’s government response to the situation as embarrassing, even though the American ambassador is doing his best. He urged his colleagues to press harder.

“We need the president engaged here. This is wrong. This is a dispute that in no way involves Tigran Gambaryan and we’re watching him decline in his health. It is a horrifying situation and this country is a friend of the US; we are not talking about Iran, or Russia here, we are talking about Nigeria.”

Adding that:

“I don’t think this leadership, the national security adviser, the president, the cabinet leadership in Nigeria get to understand they’re putting our relationship on the line because of the way they’re handling this situation.”

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In response, John Bass shed some light on the efforts made by the American government to get Tigran Gambaryan out of detention and when possibly that can happen. Saying:

“I think we are picking our way through some complicated tangles within the Nigerian system but I am hopeful we are taking out ways to resolve those in the near future, and I can assure you that the secretary and deputy secretary, along with myself are seized with this and doing everything possible to get him out soon.”

He concluded by disclosing that the US embassy has been asked to advocate for the humanitarian release of Tigran Gambaryan because of the horrible conditions in the prison, his innocence and his health.

This isn’t the first time Hill has urged Joe Biden’s government to take a deliberate step to get Tigran Gambaryan out of detention. Earlier in June, French Hill and another lawmaker Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Democrat, representing Pennsylvania, called for the release of the Binance Executive.