TLDR
- Former IRS agent and Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan was detained in Nigeria for 8 months after traveling there to address cryptocurrency compliance issues
- After his Binance colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla escaped, Gambaryan was moved to prison where his health severely deteriorated from malaria and spinal issues
- U.S. government officials and Congress members eventually pressured Nigeria to release him on humanitarian grounds in October 2024
- During detention, he communicated via secret phones and endured harsh conditions including solitary confinement
- Released after charges were dropped, he’s now pursuing legal action against Nigerian government officials
On February 25, 2024, Tigran Gambaryan boarded a flight to Nigeria, expecting a brief business trip to address cryptocurrency compliance issues. Instead, the Binance executive and former IRS agent found himself trapped in an eight-month nightmare that would test his physical and mental limits.
The trouble began when Nigerian officials detained Gambaryan and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, at a government compound in Abuja. The officials demanded Binance hand over user data and disable certain trading features, claiming the cryptocurrency exchange had harmed Nigeria’s economy.
During the first month of their detention, the two men lived under guard in a government guesthouse. They had limited contact with the outside world, though they managed to obtain secret phones to communicate with family and colleagues. The situation took a dramatic turn when Anjarwalla escaped during a morning prayer visit to a local mosque, using a hidden second passport to flee the country.
The escape sparked immediate consequences for Gambaryan. Officials moved him to solitary confinement in a windowless cell at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission facility. The cell crawled with cockroaches, and a loud fan ran constantly. “It was just torture,” Gambaryan later recalled. “I knew that if I stayed there, I was going to lose my mind.”
After two weeks in solitary, authorities transferred Gambaryan to Kuje Prison on the outskirts of Abuja. While conditions remained harsh, he found ways to cope. He befriended other inmates, including a former Nigerian police official who helped protect him. The prison cook prepared meals, and his lawyers brought food from local restaurants.
However, Gambaryan’s health began to deteriorate. He contracted malaria, developing a 104-degree fever. Despite a court order for hospitalization, prison officials delayed proper medical care. He lost 30 pounds and grew so weak he could barely stand.
A herniated disc from an old injury flared up, leaving him partially paralyzed. Video footage showed him struggling to walk into court hearings on crutches, begging for help that guards were instructed not to provide. The clips went viral on social media, drawing international attention to his plight.
Back in the United States, a coalition of supporters worked to secure his release. Former congressman Connie Mack lobbied legislators, while Gambaryan’s old law enforcement colleagues pressed for action. In June 2024, two members of Congress, French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan, visited him in prison, finding him physically frail and emotionally drained.
The congressional visit marked a turning point. More than 100 former federal agents and prosecutors signed a letter urging State Department intervention. House representatives introduced a resolution to treat Gambaryan’s case as a hostage situation. FBI Director Christopher Wray raised the matter during meetings with Nigerian officials.
By fall 2024, U.S. pressure intensified. The White House national security adviser discussed Gambaryan’s case with his Nigerian counterpart. Sources say U.S. officials made it clear that his detention would prevent any meeting between Presidents Biden and Tinubu.
Throughout his ordeal, Gambaryan maintained contact with the outside world through contraband phones. He spoke with his daughter while she played video games, trying to maintain a connection to normal life. In text messages to a journalist, he described lying awake until dawn, unable to sleep from pain.
The breakthrough came in October 2024. Nigerian prosecutors suddenly dropped all charges, citing Gambaryan’s health. After paying a $2,000 fine for overstaying his visa, he boarded a private medical evacuation flight to Rome, then continued home to Atlanta.
Since his return, Gambaryan has received multiple honors in Washington, including a reception on Capitol Hill. The White House noted President Biden’s role in securing his release through direct communication with Nigeria’s president.
Today, Gambaryan is pursuing a human rights lawsuit against the Nigerian government. He’s considering returning to federal service, possibly in a senior cryptocurrency regulation role. Despite the trauma of his imprisonment, he maintains his commitment to justice.
“I wanted justice. And I still do,” Gambaryan stated after his return, reflecting both on his past work fighting cryptocurrency crime and his plans for addressing his treatment in Nigeria.
Nigerian officials have not responded to requests for comment about Gambaryan’s detention. Binance continues to face ongoing investigation in Nigeria, though the company says it looks forward to “working toward a brighter future for the blockchain industry in Nigeria and around the world.”
The case highlights the complex intersection of cryptocurrency regulation, international relations, and personal freedom. What began as a routine business trip turned into an eight-month test of endurance, ultimately requiring intervention at the highest levels of U.S. government to bring an American citizen home.
