An executive of Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan, currently detained at Kuje Correctional Facility, made an attempt to escape, according to sources.
Investigations have revealed that Gambaryan applied for a new United States passport, claiming that his seized passport was missing.
Gambaryan, an Armenian-born executive of Binance holding both American and Armenian passports, allegedly informed the US Embassy in Abuja that his passport, which is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had been lost. However, sources with knowledge of the matter but unauthorized to speak publicly have disclosed that the EFCC urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss Gambaryan’s bail application, expressing concerns that he may attempt to flee Nigeria, similar to his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla, a Kenyan-British national who fled to Kenya.
An undisclosed source involved in the investigations revealed, “Tigran Gambaryan, the second Binance executive currently in custody at Kuje prison, had planned an escape from the facility. He applied for a new visa at the US embassy in Abuja, falsely claiming that his passport, seized by the EFCC, was lost.”
Another anonymous source mentioned that Gambaryan’s escape attempt was thwarted when the US embassy flagged his request for a new passport. The embassy promptly alerted the EFCC, which informed them that Gambaryan is a criminal suspect involved in a money laundering case. Specifically, he is accused of concealing the source of the $35.4 million revenue generated by Binance in Nigeria, knowing that the funds were proceeds of illegal activities.
Meanwhile, during the court proceedings, the EFCC strongly opposed Gambaryan’s bail application, citing the risk involved. The agency referred to the escape of his co-defendant, Nadeem Anjarwalla, from the custody of the National Security Adviser, who subsequently fled to Kenya.
In addition, the EFCC prosecutor, Ekele Iheanacho, informed the court about Gambaryan’s alleged plot to obtain a new passport to facilitate his escape from Nigeria, despite the EFCC holding his original passport. Gambaryan, along with Anjarwalla and Binance Holdings Limited, faces charges of money laundering. The EFCC accuses them of concealing the origin of the $35.4 million revenue generated by Binance in Nigeria, knowing that the funds were obtained unlawfully.
Opposing Gambaryan’s bail application, the EFCC prosecutor stated, “There was an attempt by this defendant to acquire another travel document, even when he was aware that his passport was in the custody of the state. He pretended as if the said passport was stolen.”
Iheanacho further revealed that Gambaryan had made plans to escape from custody and flee the country, similar to Anjarwalla, but was apprehended by EFCC operatives.
Considering the seriousness of the matter and the intelligence information available to the EFCC, the prosecutor argued against granting bail to Gambaryan, emphasizing the risk involved.
