Binance's executive, Tigran Gambaryan, just suffered another setback after he was denied bail last Friday despite his ailing health.
Gambaryan's wife, Yuki, is calling this ruling completely unjust. With a statement from DL News, she said
"I am exhausted and deeply disappointed, but I will continue fighting for my husband's rightful freedom."
Gambaryan has been detained in Nigeria since February and was indicted alongside his employer Binance on money laundering and currency manipulation charges in April. Both parties deny the charges.
Binance spokesperson mentioned that Gambaryan health has deteriorated since his imprisonment, and it has gone so bad that he can't walk without assistance. Just last month, US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, joined the diplomatic push to secure his release.
Gambaryan's lawyer's blamed for not adhering to procedures
During his hearing, Justice Nwite blamed Gambaryan's legal team for failing to adhere to proper court procedures, pointing out that Gambaryan's lawyers submitted a second bail application while their appeal of the initial bail denial was still in consideration.
The court also claimed that Gambaryan's lawyers did not provide any new facts to alter its previous decision. Justice Nwite even scolded Gambaryan's legal team for abusing court processes. Judge Nwite said,
"When a lawyer files an appeal to a court ruling, he is restrained from re-litigating, especially when he has failed to withdraw the previous appeal. On this alone, this new bail application is bound to fail"
One of the biggest contention points of this case would be Gambaryan's health. In the video of him that was circulating on social media, he was looking visibly gaunt and worn out. He even fainted in court and suffered malaria and pneumonia. Gambaryan's back also suffered back conditions that resulted in him walking in crutches.
Health conditions should not be enough to release a person on bail
Gambaryan's family pleaded with the court for him to get the medical attention that he so desperately needs. But the judge does not agree. It is believed that according to his medical records, any standard hospital in Nigeria would suffice for Gambaryan.
Gambaryan was later sent to a hospital in Abuja under strict security supervision. The judge also believes that ill-health shouldn't be a sufficient enough reason to grant a person bail. This contradicts with the reports from Gambaryan's family who says that even the prison doctors have called for his transfer to a specialist hospital.
"It is completely unjust to deny someone in Tigran's condition the opportunity to seek appropriate medical help and I just pray that when he is finally released the damage he is suffering is not permanent" Yuki said.
The trial for this case is still ongoing as the court is still cross-examining all the evidence they can find. The next trial session is set on the 18 October.
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