Tigran Gambaryan, a top executive at cryptocurrency firm Binance, has shared details of his eight-month detention in Nigeria, describing it as a challenging experience that affected his health and almost took his life.
He explained his ordeal in an interview with Wired.
Gambaryan stated that it all started on March 23, 2024, in Abuja, when he and a colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were held under military guard in a government-owned facility without access to their passports.
“I lost 13.6kg. I contracted malaria, pneumonia, and other illnesses. At one point, I could barely walk,” he revealed.
Gambaryan was initially detained by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before being transferred to Kuje Prison, where he endured harsh conditions.
“My cell was a 6 x 10-foot room with a metal bed frame, a blanket as a mattress, and a single barred window,” he said.
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By July, Gambaryan’s health had declined, and he required a wheelchair to attend court hearings. His cell time began earlier than other inmates, with a guard monitoring his movements.
In May, he experienced severe illness after a meeting with his lawyers. Although he suspected food poisoning, a blood test revealed malaria. Guards used funds provided by him to purchase IV fluids and medication, which helped him recover.
“One afternoon in May, Gambaryan began to feel ill during a meeting with his lawyers. He went back to his cell, lay down, and then vomited repeatedly for the rest of the evening.
“Gambaryan guessed he had food poisoning, but a blood test administered by the guards showed it was malaria.They asked him for cash, which they used to buy a bag of IV fluids—hung from a nail on the wall of his cell—and antimalarial injections,” Wired noted.
The U.S. government intervened when his health became a concern. FBI Director Christopher Wray raised his case during a visit to Nigeria, leading to increased diplomatic efforts.
Gambaryan was eventually released in October following talks between U.S. and Nigerian officials at the United Nations General Assembly.
Reflecting on his experience, Gambaryan expressed relief at being home with his family and friends. “I’m just grateful I survived and didn’t die in prison,” he said, adding that he still hopes for justice.
