A medical report from the State House Annex Clinic in Asokoro, Abuja, alleges that Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive, refused prescribed medications and food when examined by a neurosurgeon in July.
This report, along with other medical records, was presented in the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 4, 2024, during arguments over Gambaryan’s bail application, according to Nairametrics.
Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, SAN, and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, debated the claims.
The EFCC challenged assertions made by Gambaryan’s family and legal team, who reported that he was suffering from a severe health condition that left him unable to walk due to a disk issue.
Justice Emeka Nwite allowed further arguments regarding Gambaryan’s second bail application, with both sides addressing the medical reports.
The State House Annex Clinic’s report, dated August 29, 2024, revealed that a medical team was dispatched to Kuje Correctional Facility on July 17, 2024, for a preliminary evaluation of Gambaryan, who had a history of chronic back pain and anxiety.
A neurosurgeon reviewed his condition on July 18, 2024, in light of his worsening symptoms.
The neurosurgeon’s findings were “consistent with the MRI report of early multilevel disc disease with exit nerve root impingement at L4/L5.”
To relieve symptoms and avoid further potential complications, the neurosurgeon placed Gambaryan on medication, advised physiotherapy, and strongly recommended lumbar discectomy surgery as soon as possible, adding that “These findings and recommendations were consistent with those of a second neurosurgeon whose opinion was sought.”
However, the report added that the “patient was dissatisfied with the medical interventions being offered, insisting that a court had ordered that he should be treated at Nizamiye Hospital.”
Consequently, he intermittently refused prescribed medications and food to force a transfer out of the facility. He was subsequently discharged and returned to the Nigerian Correctional Service at around 1300 hours on July 21, 2024, with no obvious deterioration in his health during the five-day admission period.”
Another medical report from Nizamiye Hospital Limited was also referenced orally by counsel in open court.
The report, dated August 29, 2024, partly reads that “The above-named patient (Gambaryan) was brought to the emergency room on June 3, 2024, on account of left-sided chest pain. He had a history of sinusitis and lung infection prior to his presentation. He had frequent urination but no pain during urination.”
Mark Mordi, SAN, requested that the court grant bail to Tigran Gambaryan on liberal terms or, alternatively, for six weeks due to his ill health.
Mordi contended that despite the EFCC’s denial of Gambaryan’s serious health issues, the medical reports indicate he requires urgent medical care, including recommended surgery, which he argued cannot be adequately provided in Nigeria.
In response, Ekele Iheanacho, representing the EFCC, urged the court to reject the new bail application.
He noted that the National Security Adviser had requested Gambaryan’s medical records from the Correctional Services, and a response, including a report from Nizamiye Hospital, was received on August 29, 2024.
Iheanacho pointed out that the report showed Gambaryan had been receiving adequate medical attention and had visited multiple hospitals but had rejected some of the care offered.
He asserted that Nigeria’s Correctional Center is equipped to facilitate Gambaryan’s medical needs and that surgery cannot be performed without the defendant’s consent.
Binance and its executives are facing two separate suits by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the EFCC; the former is related to tax evasion and the latter to money laundering and foreign exchange contravention.
FIRS has discharged the executives from its case, isolating Binance.
