In a personal phone call on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden reached out to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to extend his thanks for the release of Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive who had been detained. According to a statement released by the White House, President Biden emphasized his appreciation for President Tinubu's decisive action in securing Gambaryan's release. Gambaryan, who serves as the head of financial crime compliance at Binance, was freed on humanitarian grounds after eight months in Nigerian custody, where he faced charges of money laundering and tax evasion. Although the charges against Gambaryan have been dropped, Binance still faces tax evasion allegations in the country.
During his imprisonment at Kuje Prison, Gambaryan's health significantly deteriorated due to various ailments, including malaria, pneumonia, and a herniated disc. His situation drew attention from US lawmakers and former government officials, who urged the US government to intervene on his behalf. The US Department of State announced the creation of a new US-Nigeria bilateral liaison group focused on cryptocurrency and illicit finance on the day of Gambaryan's release. The White House statement noted that Presidents Biden and Tinubu discussed the significance of the US-Nigeria partnership in addressing global challenges and promoting security and prosperity, with President Biden expressing gratitude for cooperation on law enforcement and the newly formed Bilateral Liaison Group on Illicit Finance and Cryptocurrencies.