After a fortnight of uncertainty, the cloud of mystery surrounding the detention of Binance executives in Nigeria has been lifted. The two figures at the center of the alleged cryptocurrency market manipulation charges, apprehended on February 26, are now identified as Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, according to a report by US publication Wired. Gambaryan, a former US federal agent, leads Binance’s criminal investigations unit, while Anjarwalla serves as the regional manager for Africa, based out of Kenya.
In response to inquiries about the case, a Binance spokesperson emphasized the company’s ongoing efforts to work with Nigerian authorities towards a safe return for both Gambaryan and Anjarwalla. “While it is inappropriate for us to comment on the substance of the claims at this time, we can say that we are working collaboratively with Nigerian authorities to bring Nadeem and Tigran back home safely to their families,” the spokesperson stated, assuring full support for the detained executives and expressing confidence in a prompt resolution.
The circumstances leading to their detention unfolded when Gambaryan, a US citizen, and Anjarwalla, a UK-Kenyan dual citizen, arrived in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on February 25. Their visit aimed to engage in discussions with Nigerian officials regarding the country’s recent clampdown on cryptocurrency exchanges. Unfortunately, the situation took an adverse turn shortly thereafter, with both men detained and their passports confiscated by the National Security Agency.
Amidst ongoing negotiations and visits from US and UK diplomatic representatives, the two executives continue to be held, deprived of private communication. Yuki Gambaryan, Tigran Gambaryan’s wife, shared her distress over the lack of clarity regarding her husband’s condition and the outcome of this ordeal. “There’s no definite answer for anything: how’s he’s doing, what’s going to happen to him, when he’s coming back,” she lamented. “And not knowing that is killing me.” The incident highlights the complexities and challenges faced by global cryptocurrency operations within regulatory environments.
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