Binance CEO slams Abuja over ‘unlawful’ graft case

The CEO of global cryptocurrency exchange platform Binance has expressed deep concern over the Nigerian Government's decision to detain one of its employees. Two Binance executives Nadeem Anjarwalla and Tigran Gambaryan were arrested while negotiating with Nigerian authorities amid a crackdown on the crypto platform. Earlier, the Nigerian Government had blocked the online platforms of Binance and other crypto firms to halt what it described as continuous manipulation of the forex market and illicit movement of funds. Anjarwalla escaped from custody after guards on duty led him visit a nearby mosque for prayers. The Premium Times reports that Teng expressed concerns over the detention of Gambaryan, a mid-level employee ‘who holds no decision-making authority within the company’. ‘It is important to note that Tigran did not go to Nigeria as a decision-maker, nor a negotiator. He was merely acting as a functional expert in financial crime and capacity building in policy discussions,’ he said. Teng said releasing Gambaryan and facilitating his return home would be a simple solution that would allow the company to continue co-operating with Nigerian law enforcement agencies, as it has done voluntarily on numerous occasions in the past.