Tigran Gambaryan, the detained Binance executive, has filed a lawsuit against the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission for an alleged breach of his fundamental human rights.
In an originating motion, dated March 18 and submitted by his attorney, Olujoke Aliyu of Aluko and Oyebode Law Firm, Gambaryan prayed five reliefs from Justice Inyang Ekwo.
In a related development, Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s Africa regional manager who fled from custody on March 22, lodged a separate suit for the enforcement of rights before Justice Ekwo.
Both Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, through suits numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 and FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24, have taken legal action against the Office of the NSA and the EFCC as the first and second defendants, respectively.
Gambaryan, an American overseeing financial crime compliance at the cryptocurrency exchange, has petitioned for a ruling that his detention and the confiscation of his international passport are in violation of Sections 35 (1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended), asserting that these actions infringe upon his constitutional right to personal liberty.
He also sought an order directing the respondents to release him from their custody and! return his international travel passport with immediate effect.
Gambaryan equally sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and agents from further detaining him in relation to any investigation into or demands from Binance.
The official, who sought an order for the respondents to issue a public apology to him, also prayed for the cost of this action on a full indemnity basis.
In a statement in support of the suit, he said he is an American citizen who visited Nigeria on Feb. 26 February, along with fleeing Nadeem Anjarwalla, as a representative of Binance, to honour the invitation of the ONSA and EFCC to discuss issues relating to Binance in Nigeria.
Giving 11-ground argument why his application should be granted, he said that he and his colleague, Anjarwalla, dutifully attended the meeting.
He said after the meeting the two of them were detained by the respondents and had remained in detention since then.
He said he did not commit any offence during the meeting, and neither was he informed in writing of any offence he personally committed in Nigeria at any other time.
“The only reason for his detention is because the government is requesting information from Binance and making demands on the company,” he said, adding that he was not a member of the Board of Directors of Binance.”
When the two suits were called on Thursday, T.J. Krukrubo, SAN, appeared for Anjarwalla and Gambaryan
Krukrubo, told the court that though the respondents were served two days ago, they were not represented in court.
The senior lawyer, however, drew the attention of the court to their notice of withdrawal of legal representation for Anjarwalla filed on March 26.
Although Krukrubo did not give details of why they were withdrawing their legal representation, this might not be unconnected to the disappearance of the applicant in custody.
Justice Ekwo said having withdrew their legal representation, “it means that the applicant has no legal representation and requires that the matter be adjourned for the applicant to seek legal representation and for the respondents to be given an opportunity to come to court.”
