By Our Reporter
U.S. President Joe Biden expressed gratitude to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian government for dropping criminal charges against Tigran Gambaryan, the Head of Financial Crimes Compliance at Binance.
Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, was arrested during a business trip to Nigeria in February and charged with laundering $35.4 million and tax evasion, which he denied. His arrest followed the escape of Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s Africa regional manager, who was detained alongside him.
Last week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced it had withdrawn the charges against Gambaryan to facilitate his medical treatment abroad.
To discuss this development and other mutual interests, President Biden called President Tinubu at approximately 4 p.m. on Tuesday, with their conversation lasting about 30 minutes.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar shared details of the call with journalists at the State House in Abuja, noting that the discussion focused on Gambaryan’s release and various diplomatic issues.
Biden reiterated support for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, highlighting the country’s leadership roles in Africa and its contributions to global peacekeeping efforts.
Tuggar stated, “The call emphasized collaboration between our countries regarding law enforcement, particularly in relation to the cryptocurrency case.”
In response, President Tinubu thanked Biden and the U.S. for their partnership across numerous sectors, discussing security collaboration, especially in West Africa.
Biden emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership, remarking that “the future of the world resides in Africa.” He assured that the U.S. is committed to supporting Africa’s quest for two permanent seats on the UN Security Council and noted Nigeria’s deserving position for one of those seats based on its stature and significance in the continent.