A federal high court in Abuja has denied bail to Tigran Gambaryan, an executive at Binance Holdings Limited, in a ruling issued on Friday.
Presiding Judge Emeka Nwite determined that the bail application constituted an abuse of court process, given that Gambaryan has already appealed a prior court decision on the same matter.
Judge Nwite stated that a defendant’s ill health does not automatically warrant bail. He pointed out that Gambaryan failed to provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that the Correctional Service facility was incapable of addressing his medical needs or facilitating access to specialist care. “This application is bound to fail,” Nwite remarked.
Despite denying bail, the judge ordered the prison authorities to transfer Gambaryan to a standard specialist hospital in Abuja for three days, under security supervision, to address his medical concerns.
Gambaryan, along with Binance, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in April on allegations of money laundering. His initial bail request was denied on May 17, after which he collapsed in court due to health issues.
Concerns regarding Gambaryan’s health have intensified, with his wife, Yuki, stating that his condition is worsening and that he requires “highly specialised and risky surgery” for a herniated disc.
Nwite previously issued an arrest warrant for Abraham Ehizojie, a doctor at Kuje Correctional Centre, due to his failure to present a medical report for Gambaryan.
On September 2, the EFCC contested the health claims made by Gambaryan’s legal team, asserting through counsel Ekele Iheanacho that the executive’s health issues are not as severe as portrayed. Following this, another bail application was filed on August 28, but the prosecution continued to oppose it.
