President Joe Biden of the United States thanked Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for the release of Tigran Gambaryan, a senior executive from the cryptocurrency exchange Binance.
This expression of gratitude was conveyed during a phone call on Tuesday, which lasted approximately 30 minutes, as shared by Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar.
Tuggar briefed reporters about the call, stating, “I have been directed by Mr. President to brief you with regards to his phone call with US President Joseph Biden at about 4 pm today.”
During the conversation, President Biden expressed his appreciation for Nigeria’s cooperation, particularly in relation to the release of Gambaryan, who had been detained for eight months.
Gambaryan’s release marks a critical moment in the diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and the United States. His family confirmed that he left Nigeria on Monday after what they described as “unlawful detention.”
In their statement, they highlighted the relief of Gambaryan returning to his family, stating, “Today, American citizen Tigran Gambaryan left Nigeria to return home to his family after 8 months of unlawful detention.”
Gambaryan was arrested earlier this year as part of a broader crackdown by the Nigerian government on cryptocurrency operations. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged him with money laundering, which both Gambaryan and Binance denied.
His prolonged detention raised concerns internationally, particularly as reports emerged about his declining health while held at Kuje Prison.
U.S. lawmakers and diplomats had been advocating for his release, focusing on both his health issues and the need for fair legal proceedings.
Finally, after numerous failed bail applications, Gambaryan was discharged from the money laundering charges by an Abuja Federal High Court, allowing him to return to the United States for urgent medical attention.
Richard Teng, the CEO of Binance, expressed relief at Gambaryan’s release, underscoring the company’s commitment to working with regulatory bodies in Nigeria.
In response to Biden’s thanks, President Tinubu also expressed appreciation for the partnership between Nigeria and the U.S., particularly in various sectors, including security in West Africa. Biden reaffirmed the importance of this partnership, stating, “the future of the world resides in Africa…which is why it is important for this partnership to continue.”
Additionally, the two leaders discussed Nigeria’s potential role in the United Nations Security Council. Biden assured Tinubu that the U.S. is committed to supporting two permanent seats for African nations, with an emphasis on Nigeria’s significant position on the continent.
“President Biden, once again, assured that the United States is committed to seeing Africa having two permanent seats,” Tuggar explained.
