A federal high court in Abuja has rejected a second bail request from Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance Holdings Limited, who is facing charges of money laundering. The ruling was delivered by presiding judge Emeka Nwite on Friday.
Judge Nwite stated that the bail application constituted an abuse of court process, particularly as Gambaryan had already filed an appeal against a previous court decision on the same matter. He further noted that ill health alone is not sufficient grounds for bail unless it is proven that the prison’s medical facilities cannot provide the necessary care.
“The application is bound to fail,” Nwite ruled, while ordering prison authorities to ensure Gambaryan receives treatment at a specialist hospital in Abuja under security supervision.
Gambaryan and Binance were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in April on charges of money laundering. His initial bail request in May was also denied. Following that, Gambaryan collapsed in court, reportedly due to health complications.
His legal team and family have expressed concerns about his deteriorating condition, with his wife, Yuki, warning that Gambaryan requires urgent surgery for a herniated disc. Despite these concerns, the EFCC has challenged the seriousness of his health issues, filing a counter affidavit to oppose the latest bail application.
In his ruling, Nwite noted that there was no sufficient evidence to suggest that the correctional facility was unable to manage Gambaryan’s medical needs. The case has drawn significant attention as concerns about Gambaryan’s health continue to escalate.