News
Families in disarray as Tinubu’s government continues hostage of Binance’s executives
The families of Binance executives Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and British-Kenyan Nadeem Anjarwalla, held hostage by the Nigerian government, have been thrown into anxiety and frustration, wondering what would become of the duo over their prolonged detention without any charge.
Messrs Gambaryan and Anjarwalla packed light bags and travelled down to Nigeria on February 25 to honour an invitation from the Nigerian government over controversies that linked Binance to the steep plunge of the naira.
The day after their arrival, both men were whisked from their hotel rooms and taken to a government “guest house,” where they have since been confined against their will. Their travel passports have also been confiscated.
With no criminal charge filed against them, their families are completely at sea and extremely distressed as to why the Nigerian authorities have held them hostage and for how long the incarceration would last.
Mr Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, has described the last two weeks as the “hardest days of her life.” She said her two children (a four-year-old and a 10-year-old) have become relentless in asking when daddy will return, a question to which she has no answer.
She said the situation had gotten so intense that her four-year-old now spent time in Mr Gambaryan’s home office because “it smells like daddy.”
“My youngest asks when daddy is coming home every day, going into Tigran’s home office because it smells like daddy,” Wall Street Journal quoted Ms Gambaryan to have said.
The wife of the Binance executive further stressed being emotionally drained and worried that she might never see her husband again.
“Sometimes it feels like I’ll never see him again,” Ms Gambaryan told WSJ. “I’m just begging them (the Nigerian government) to let him go.”
Ms Gambaryan said she could sense her husband was frightened by the situation from the few daily messages he was allowed to send under the strict supervision of the security operatives.
“I can tell he’s trying to stay positive, but it’s getting to him. He’s getting impatient, he’s feeling hopeless,” Ms Gambaryan told Wired.
Mr Anjarwalla’s wife, Elahe, expressed worry about her husband, a Muslim, observing Ramadan in detention.
She expressed her concerns that their son would be a year old in a matter of weeks and worried whether her husband would be around to see their child celebrate his first birthday.
“Nadeem is a loving husband and father. He is my best friend,” Ms Anjarwalla said in a statement obtained by Wired. “All I want is for Nadeem to be allowed to come back home to us.”
Further compounding the matter was that the two weeks the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said were required to conduct investigations on the duo elapsed on Monday. But the government has remained mum on whether or not Messrs Gambaryan and Anjarwalla would be allowed to return to their countries.
Representatives of the U.S. Department of State and the UK’s Home Office have visited their citizens held hostage by the Nigerian government under the watchful eyes of the Nigerian security agents.
It is unclear if any decisions have been reached to negotiate their freedom.
News
Christmas in Naija: How We Dey Manage Celebrate Despite Wahala
News
Edo To Get First Lady As Gov Okpebholo Reportedly Set To Quit Bachelorhood
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
December 24, (THEWILL) – Barring any last minute change of heart, the governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, is allegedly set to marry his side chick, a California-based lady, Jennifer, the daughter of Sharon Ogaga, who is a native of Auchi and is believed to be in her 30s.
THEWILL reports that the marriage is scheduled to be held in Potter Ranch, California, in January 2024, while Aso ebi for the event is being distributed to friends of the bride for a fee around America, Europe and Africa, the letter of invitation only identifies Jennifer, but does not mention the identity of the husband-to-be, in what appears to be a deliberate attempt to mask governor Okpebolo’s identity and shield him from the controversial move.
What is weird is that Jennifer and her family are being coy with the identity of the man she is marrying.
One of THEWILL’s sources, however, has a direct confirmation that Governor Okpebholo is the “husband-in-waiting.”
“They are only telling people that Jennifer is getting married. They are not revealing the identity of the man. It is obvious they are hiding something, probably they don’t want distractions to taint the ceremony,” one of the sources said.
THEWILL does not know the status of Okpebholo’s current marriage to Blessing Okpabi Okpebholo, the mother of his two daughters, who was a no-show during his inauguration as governor.
It, however, appears that their marriage is over because it is illegal to be married to more than one person under the laws of the United States.
According to one of our sources, Senator Adams Oshiomhole allegedly hooked Jennifer up with the governor.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Osiobughie Okhuemoi, said he was unaware of the development when THEWILL contacted him for comments a few days ago.
THE WILL
News
WATCH moment Tinubu hails FCT minister for his doggedness, sterling performance
President Bola Tinubu has described the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, minister Nyesom Wike as a performing and dogged technocrat.
Naijablitznews reports Tinubu made this assertion during his maiden presidential chat on Monday.
The president rounded up by saying “I doff my hat for the performing minister.
Watch clip below:
-
Metro21 hours ago
Appeal Court Affirms 12-Year Jail Term for Businessman Over $1.4 Million Fraud
-
News21 hours ago
Again, Senator Manu shares 10,000 bags of rice, 15,000 cartons of spaghetti, transport fares to constituents (Photos/Video)
-
Sports21 hours ago
Alex Iwobi Spreads Holiday Cheer with Free Food Donations in East London
-
Entertainment21 hours ago
Portable’s Baby Mama Honey Berry and New Man Dance Romantically to Singer’s Song, Tag Him to Post
-
News20 hours ago
FG gives banks, telcos six-month ultimatum on N250bn USSD debt
-
News20 hours ago
CDS Musa sets high bar for newly-decorated Major Generals
-
News20 hours ago
Outcry against Tax Reform Bills misplaced, says Senator Umeh
-
News20 hours ago
Courts convict 742 terrorists, free 888