Detained Binance’s executives sue Nigerian government, report says

Binance’s executives intercepted by Nigerian officials have sued the Nigerian government, saying the local authorities have violated their fundamental rights.

Binance executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, have filed a lawsuit against Nigeria‘s national security adviser’s office and the anti-graft agency, alleging violation of their fundamental rights during detention without being informed of any offenses.

According to a Reuters report, Gambaryan petitioned Judge Iyang Ekwo on Mar. 28 to declare the detention and confiscation of his passport by the National Security Adviser and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as a violation of his “fundamental right to personal liberty.”

The lawsuit also reads their demand for release, return of passports, a public apology, and a restraining order against further detention, citing a lack of information about any committed offenses. The hearing has been scheduled for Apr. 8. As of press time, Binance made no public statements on the matter.

Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were detained on Feb. 26, just a day after the two arrived in Nigeria in response to an invitation from the authorities to address ongoing disputes with the exchange. In mid-March, Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a Kenyan passport and now faces the prospect of an international arrest warrant.

Nigerian authorities have intensified scrutiny on crypto platforms amid the country’s economic challenges, including a significant devaluation of the naira and high inflation rates. In a bid to curb currency depreciation, the government previously ordered telecom and internet service providers to restrict access to several crypto exchanges, including Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken.