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Binance executive, Gambaryan may die of malaria in Kuje Correctional Centre – Lawyer
Aluko & Oyebode, the law firm handling the case of Binance Holdings Limited, says Mr Tigran Gambaryan, the cryptocurrency firm’s executive, standing trial alongside the company in Nigeria, may die in Kuje Correctional Centre.
The law firm stated this in a letter addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar of Federal High Court (FHC) and signed by a Partner, C.J. Caleb.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the letter, dated and filed on May 23, which was sighted on Sunday, was titled: “Re: Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/128/2024 – Application for the Provision of Medical Treatment to Mr. Tigran Gambrayan at Nizamiye Hospital.”
Caleb said: “We continue to act as counsel to Mr. Tigran Gambaryan, the 2nd defendant in the captioned suit pending before the Honourable Justice E. Nwite sitting at Court 9 of the Federal High Court, Abuja.”
He said Gambaryan, the Head of Financial Crimes Compliance of the cryptocurrency platform, broke down on Wednesday (May 22) in prison and was administered with “Intravenous (IV) treatment for malaria” by the medical personnel.
“Please be informed that the 2nd defendant, who is an American citizen and remanded at the Kuje Medium Correctional Facility is very ill and requires comprehensive medical attention at the best available hospital within the jurisdiction of this honourable court.
“The applicant broke down yesterday and the medical facility gave him Intravenous (IV) treatment for malaria,” he said
The lawyer, therefore, raised the alarm over Gambaryan’s continuous remand in the correctional facility, expressing fear for his life amid his alleged deteriorating health.
“The Consul Officer at the United States Consul Office in Abuja, emphasised the need for the applicant to receive comprehensive treatment because malaria is a severe disease for American citizens which can result in death because they do not have the immunity that ordinary Nigerians have against the disease,” he said in the letter.
Caleb, who said the defendant equally suffered from throat infection, added that “the Kuje Medium Correctional Facility is currently undergoing renovation works.”
According to him, given the above, we humbly apply that the applicant be transferred to Nizayime Hospital, Abuja, to receive comprehensive diagnoses and treatment for the preservation of his Iife.
NAN observes that the letter came six days after Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court declined to grant Gambaryan’s bail application moved by a lawyer in the defence team, Mark Mordi, SAN.
Justice Nwite had held that based on the affidavit evidence before him, Gambaryan would jump bail if the application was granted.
The judge held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had overwhelming evidence against the applicant that he was a flight risk.
Justice Nwite ordered him to remain in remand throughout the hearing and determination of the alleged money laundering and terrorist financing charges.
NAN reports that on Thursday when the matter came up, the ailing Gambaryan collapsed in the open court over alleged ill-health.
The development occurred shortly after the matter was called for trial continuation before Justice Nwite.
His lawyer, Mr Mordi, explained to the court why his client could not stand as soon as the matter was called.
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#EdoDecides2024: Fintiri expresses concerns over election conduct
***Says, he weep for Nigeria’s democracy
By Francesca Hangeior
The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, has raised serious concerns over the conduct of Saturday’s Edo election, describing it as a blatant attack on Nigeria’s democracy.
Fintiri condemned the alleged irregularities, “including vote buying, voter intimidation, and the manipulation of election results,” which he claimed “undermined the integrity of the electoral process” in a post on his X platform on Sunday.
The governor also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of violating democratic norms, citing incidents where APC officials, including the party’s national chairman, flew into Edo on election day despite movement restrictions.
On September 22, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the All Progressives Congress candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, victorious in the recently concluded Edo State governorship election.
Okpebholo triumphed over his main challengers, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Faruk Kuta, announced Okpebholo as the winner at the collation centre in Benin City, the state capital, on Sunday.
The APC candidate secured 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes. Akpata of the LP finished a distant third with 22,763 votes.
Reacting to the outcome of the election, Finitiri further criticised the INEC for reportedly favouring the APC, warning that the country’s democracy was at risk if such practices continued unchecked.
The statement read, “I weep for Nigeria’s democracy after witnessing the shameful Edo Gubernatorial poll. The @OfficialAPCNg’s desperate attempts to discredit me by falsely claiming I announced results won’t distract from the real issue. I merely shared results from INEC’s Irev portal, as collated by INEC from the various Local Government Areas.
“What’s truly shameful is APC’s national chairman flying into Edo with a private jet on election day, defying movement restrictions, while their Governors used armoured escorts to intimidate voters. This blatant disregard for democratic norms is the real brigandage. Nigerians are outraged, slamming @inecnigeria for compromising and favouring APC.
“The reported vote-buying, disruption of collation processes, and suspicious results with more votes than accredited voters undermine trust in our democracy.
Democracy indeed is under attack. We must condemn this rape of democracy and demand accountability. The world is watching, and Nigeria deserves better.”
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Access Holdings Reports N2.2trn Revenue in First Half of 2024
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New US rules to exacerbate trade dispute with China
By Francesca Hangeior
China has warned the United States not to take “discriminatory actions” against its firms, following reports that Washington is planning to ban the sale of vehicles using Chinese and Russian technology.
Bloomberg and other media reported Sunday, citing sources, that the United States was mulling new rules that would ban hardware and software made in China from its vehicles.
Asked about the reports, foreign ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, said China urged, “the US to respect market principles and provide an open, fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises”.
“China opposes the US’s broadening of the concept of national security and the discriminatory actions taken against Chinese companies and products,” Lin said.
“China will resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” he added.
The rules, if confirmed, would mark the latest escalation of a simmering trade row between the US and China.
In May, Washington unveiled steep tariff hikes on Chinese imports like electric vehicles and semiconductors.
The tariff hikes hit $18 billion worth of Chinese imports, targeting strategic sectors like EVs, batteries, critical minerals and medical products, the White House said.
The tariff rate on EVs is set to quadruple to 100 per cent this year while the tariff for semiconductors will surge from 25 per cent to 50 per cent by next year.
Those plans were finalised this month, ahead of November’s presidential election, where both Democrats and Republicans are seeking to show a tough stance on China as competition between both countries intensifies.
The tariff hikes on the $18 billion worth of goods were taken after a review of levies imposed under then-president Donald Trump, which impacted some $300 billion in goods from China.
Apart from tariff increases including those on solar cells, the US Trade Representative’s office confirmed that a 50 percent duty on semiconductors a sharp rise from before would start in 2025.
US President Joe Biden has accused Beijing of “cheating” rather than competing on trade.
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