Detained Binance executive sues EFCC, NSA

Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive, has accused National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission of abusing his fundamental human rights.

Gambaryan filed an originating motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 seeking a determination that his imprisonment and seizure of his foreign travel passport violated Sections 35 (1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution.

He begged the court to order the NSA and EFCC to free him from jail and return his international travel passport immediately.

Gambaryan also sought a perpetual injunction preventing the defendants and their agents from detaining him in connection with any investigation into or demands from Binance.

He also asked the court to order the respondents to make a public apology to him.

Gambaryan said that he came to Nigeria with Nadeem Anjarwalla, to accept the ONSA and EFCC’s invitation to discuss Binance-related issues.

Anjarwalla escaped from the guesthouse, where he and Gambaryan were detained.

He claimed that he had committed no offenses during the meeting and that he had not been informed in writing of any additional offenses he had committed in Nigeria.

“The only reason for his detention is because the government is requesting information from Binance and making demands on the company,” he added.

Anjarwalla fled and filed a similar action, FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24.

T.J. Krukrubo (SAN) appeared for the plaintiffs in Thursday’s hearings, while the respondents were not represented.

Krukrubo informed the court that the respondents were served two days prior.

Shortly thereafter, he informed the court that he was withdrawing as counsel for the fleeing Anjarwalla. He did not explain his withdrawal.

The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, delayed the case till April 8.

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