In a remarkable display of diplomatic efforts, US lawmakers French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan visited Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive, at Kuje Prison in Nigeria. Their visit highlighted the deplorable conditions Gambaryan is facing, including malaria, double pneumonia, and significant weight loss, despite being denied adequate medical care.

Hill described the prison conditions as "horrible" and emphasized the irony of Gambaryan's situation, as he is a US citizen who has actively fought against money laundering and tax evasion. Hill called for Gambaryan's immediate humanitarian release, urging that he be allowed to return home to the United States.

Gambaryan, head of Binance's financial crime compliance department, was arrested alongside Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance's regional manager for Africa. While Anjarwalla managed to escape custody, Gambaryan remains detained, prompting a growing effort by politicians and former federal agents to secure his release.

Letters have been sent to the State Department advocating for Gambaryan's release, and his wife, Yuki Gambaryan, has expressed frustration and confusion over his continued detention. She urged the US government to intensify its efforts to bring her husband back home, believing that more could be done by the State Department to secure the release of an innocent American citizen.

Meanwhile, Gambaryan's legal troubles in Nigeria continue to escalate, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) resuming its money laundering case against Binance and Gambaryan. Witnesses, including Abdulkabir Abbas, a Director with Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), were cross-examined during the session.

Notably, a recent court ruling cleared Gambaryan and Anjarwalla of tax evasion charges, but the Nigerian government continues to crack down on cryptocurrency trading platforms, accusing them of influencing foreign exchange rates. The detention of the Binance executives came after the Nigerian government banned cryptocurrency channels as part of a campaign against currency speculation.

The visit by US lawmakers and the growing efforts to secure Gambaryan's release highlight the pressing need for diplomatic intervention in this case. As Gambaryan's health concerns escalate, it is imperative that he receives adequate medical care and is allowed to return home to the United States.