Nigerian officials have decided to drop tax charges against Tigran Gambaryan, a senior executive at Binance, as announced by a family spokesperson on June 14. Alongside Gambaryan, fellow Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla also saw the tax charges from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) dismissed. However, both executives still face money laundering allegations brought by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), with their case scheduled to resume on June 20.

The Gambaryan family spokesperson denounced the charges as baseless, pointing to the dismissal of the tax allegations by FIRS as evidence that the executives should not have been charged initially. The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns about Gambaryan’s health, exacerbated after reports that he collapsed in court due to Malaria on May 23. According to family representatives, Gambaryan’s condition has since worsened, with the onset of pneumonia. They also criticized prison authorities for lack of transparency regarding his medical treatment.

Despite a court order mandating immediate hospitalization, the spokesperson alleged delays by prison authorities in providing necessary medical care. Furthermore, they highlighted bureaucratic obstacles preventing Gambaryan’s family, legal team, and the U.S. embassy from accessing his medical records, as well as naming a prison official as his next of kin.

In response to the dropped charges, Binance issued a statement acknowledging FIRS for their handling of the matter and emphasizing that Gambaryan’s role within the company does not warrant his continued detention. The cryptocurrency exchange reiterated its stance that resolving issues with the Nigerian government does not hinge on Gambaryan’s custody status.

Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were arrested in February on charges related to money laundering and tax evasion, despite Binance’s prior agreement to cease operations in Nigeria. Anjarwalla reportedly escaped custody in March using his Kenyan passport but was later apprehended in Kenya and now faces extradition back to Nigeria.

Recent advocacy efforts in the United States, including a letter from lawmakers and appeals by former federal prosecutors, have intensified calls for Gambaryan’s release, underscoring international attention on the case.