Binance Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla have initiated a lawsuit against Nigeria. They target the office of the national security adviser and the anti-graft body. The executives argue their rights were infringed upon during their detention. They were held without clear charges.
The legal action stems from an incident reported by Reuters. It occurred after Nigerian officials detained them. They took Gambaryan’s passport. This act prompted the executives to seek justice. They demand their freedom, the return of their passports, and a formal apology. Additionally, they seek protection against future detainment without cause. Their court date is set for April 8.
Binance has yet to comment on the situation.
The backstory involves Gambaryan and Anjarwalla’s detention on February 26. This happened shortly after their arrival in Nigeria. They were there to discuss issues with the exchange at the government’s request. Anjarwalla later escaped Nigeria using a Kenyan passport. Now, he could face an international arrest.
This legal battle occurs amid Nigeria’s heightened monitoring of cryptocurrency platforms. The country faces economic hurdles. These include the naira’s devaluation and rising inflation. To fight currency devaluation, the government blocked access to crypto exchanges. Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken were among those affected.