Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Kuje correctional facility to provide a wheelchair for detained Binance Holdings Limited executive, Tigran Gambaryan. The order was made on Monday after Gambaryan, who was using crutches, expressed concerns over his deteriorating health due to inadequate medical care at the facility.
The incident occurred when Justice Nwite briefly exited the courtroom and returned to find Gambaryan visibly distressed. Gambaryan, who has been suffering from a herniated disc for the past twelve years, told the judge that his condition has worsened since his remand at Kuje prison. He stated, “My client’s health has continued to deteriorate. He can’t move without assistance and was crying as he made his way here this morning.”
Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, SAN, had earlier informed the court of his client’s declining health, highlighting that Gambaryan struggles to walk and endures severe pain. Mordi stated that although they had requested a wheelchair, the prison officials had not provided one, prompting him to ask the court to intervene.
Justice Nwite then questioned the prison official present as to why Gambaryan was denied a wheelchair, ordering immediate compliance. Following the directive, Gambaryan was seen being wheeled out of the courtroom.
Prosecutor Ekele Iheanacho argued that Gambaryan might be exaggerating his condition, citing the National Security Adviser’s health records, which indicated that Gambaryan’s situation was stable and not life-threatening. Iheanacho also mentioned his confusion as to why these health records had not been presented in court.
Meanwhile, another layer of the trial unfolded as Tonye Krukrubo, SAN, counsel for the first defendant, complained that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had failed to provide the complete set of documents requested via subpoena, which were needed for the continuation of the trial. Iheanacho requested a brief adjournment to resolve the document issue with CBN.
The court case, involving Binance, Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, the exchange’s British-Kenyan regional manager for Africa, revolves around charges of money laundering amounting to $35 million brought forward by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Gambaryan remains in custody at Kuje prison, while Anjarwalla, who was initially detained alongside Gambaryan, escaped from custody in March 2024.
