Former IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Richard Weber has expressed his belief in the innocence of his former colleague, Tigran Gambaryan. He claims that the Nigerian government is using Gambaryan to "get something" from his current employer, Binance. Weber shared these views during a podcast on October 3.
"I knew at that very moment that Tigran did absolutely nothing wrong, and it was the Nigerian government that was trying to get something out of his detainment," said Weber. "Tigran, without a doubt, is being held captive in a Nigerian prison. The prison that he is being held at is a prison that also holds the worst of the worst criminals in Nigeria. It's a prison that holds really bad people, including terrorists, and here we have a former law enforcement official and dedicated public servant who is working at a crypto company as a mid-level employee - not a decision-maker, not an executive - who is trying to resolve who is trying to resolve a compliance issue, who then gets arrested and thrown into the same facility."
According to Forbes, Gambaryan was invited by Nigerian officials to Abuja in February for compliance discussions as the head of financial crime compliance at Binance, a global cryptocurrency exchange. Subsequently, Nigerian authorities accused Binance of contributing to the devaluation of the naira and detained Gambaryan without initially charging him. Later, he was charged with financial crimes and transferred to Kuje Prison, where his health has reportedly deteriorated due to an untreated herniated disc and illnesses such as malaria, pneumonia, and tonsillitis.
The Block reported that on October 11, Gambaryan was denied bail for a second time despite meeting conditions for release on medical grounds. His family said that "several doctors, including the prison’s own doctor," have indicated that he requires medical treatment unavailable at the prison.
Amnesty International researchers have described conditions in Nigerian prisons as "appalling." According to a press release from the organization, cells are overcrowded and unsanitary with inadequate toilet facilities. The spread of disease is exacerbated by these conditions, and inmates reportedly need money for bribes to access medical care.
In 2022, Kuje Prison gained attention when Islamic extremists freed 879 inmates using high-grade explosives. CBS News reported that Boko Haram rebels orchestrated this breakout, resulting in one guard's death. Shuaib Belgore from Nigeria's Ministry of Interior said they targeted their co-conspirators specifically. Former President Muhammadu Buhari expressed disappointment over intelligence failures that allowed the attack.
Weber is currently a partner at Winston & Strawn LLP and has held various significant positions including General Counsel of the New York State Department of Financial Services and head of the Money Laundering Section at the U.S. Department of Justice. He also led major investigations during his tenure with IRS-CI's first cybercrime unit.