“My husband is innocent, please release him”- Wife of detained Binance Executive pens emotional letter to FG

The Binance Executive’s wife insists her husband is innocent and should be allowed to come home to his family.

Yuki Gambaryan, the wife of detained Binance Holdings Limited executive Tigran Gambaryan, has penned an emotional letter to the Nigerian Government, pleading with them to release her husband from custody.

Her husband Gambaryan, who is an American citizen is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering involving the cryptocurrency firm.

On February 26, 2024, he was detained alongside the Regional Manager of Binance for East and West Africa, Nadeem Anjarwalla on the order of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

However, according to the Nigerian Government, Ribadu escaped from lawful custody on March 22, and fled the country. Efforts are ongoing in collaboration with Interpol to extradit him back to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed April 8 for ruling on an objection raised by Gambaryan.

The Binance executive, had through his lawyer Mark Mondi (SAN), opposed the move to be arraigned before court, insisting that the EFCC, having not served Binance, listed as 1st defendant in the charge, cannot arraign him.

In a lawsuit filed by the anti-graft commission, Gambaryan and his expatriates are being accused of money laundering up to $35,400,000.

His wife, however, has insisted that her husband is innocent as he is just an employee of the company and hold no managerial position.

Read her letter below:

My name is Yuki Gambaryan, and I am pleading with you from the bottom of my heart as the wife of Tigran Gambaryan to please allow my innocent husband to come home.

Tigran is first and foremost an incredible father, loving husband, and supportive friend to everyone who meets him. He has a deep respect for Nigeria and its people, and in fact, he had expressed excitement to me at the prospect of starting to work in your country.

I understand and respect your decision to scrutinize his employer, Binance. I realize that this whole situation has arisen from your commitment to your country and its citizens. However, Tigran is merely an employee. He does not have authority over Binance’s corporate decisions or policies that might have impacted Nigeria. He spends his workday investigating and pursuing criminal activity on the platform. His very job is to help governments, like yours, prosecute and prevent illicit activity. Sadly, any influence he might have had at Binance to help the company leaders understand your position in this disagreement is trapped in that cell with him.

Tigran is globally recognized for his significant contributions in solving crimes involving cryptocurrencies. I know many of his peers, including in Nigeria, would say that Tigran’s continuous efforts not only decrease illicit activity on Binance’s platform but for all cryptocurrencies across the world.

Tigran and I have two young children. This is the longest their Dad has ever been away from them, and they don’t understand why he hasn’t come home to them. They ask me every day when he will be coming home, and still I cannot give them an answer. This week is going to be especially difficult as it is our youngest’s 5th birthday on Friday. I never imagined Tigran would not be here with us to celebrate it.

Meanwhile, his aging mother spends her days in tears, praying for the safe return of her only son. She raised Tigran almost all on her own. He is her everything, the thought of him being in a country so far away from her and in these circumstances is beyond devastating to her.

A small part of me chips away every day without Tigran by my side. He is the love of my life, and I cannot imagine a life without him. I plead with you from the depths of my heart to release Tigran. Please let our children see their father. Your act of mercy would be eternally appreciated.