President Joe Biden has expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the release of Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance Holdings, who was on trial in Nigeria for alleged money laundering and currency speculation.
The two leaders discussed this development during a thirty-minute phone call, as confirmed by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar.
The conversation included discussions on security issues in Africa, particularly in West Africa, and highlighted the importance of collaboration between Nigeria and the United States in law enforcement.
President Biden offered his condolences regarding the recent flooding in northeastern Nigeria and acknowledged President Tinubu’s leadership in securing Gambaryan’s release on humanitarian grounds.
Tuggar emphasized that the release followed due process, aligning with legal protocols.
Last week, the Nigerian Federal Government dropped all charges against Gambaryan after months of trial. He had been in detention since April, and the charges were dismissed primarily on health grounds.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed the withdrawal of charges during a court session, indicating that Gambaryan was merely an employee of Binance and not involved in the company’s broader financial operations.
The diplomatic exchange underscores a strengthening partnership between Nigeria and the United States, with both countries focusing on collaborative efforts to address security and economic challenges in the region.
