President Joe Biden of the United States has thanked his Nigerian counterpart, President Bola Tinubu for the recent withdrawal of criminal charges against Tigran Gambaryan, the Head of Financial Crimes Compliance at Binance.
In what looks like a significant diplomatic exchange, the two leaders held a 30-minute phone conversation on Tuesday afternoon, during which they discussed various issues of mutual interest.
Gambaryan, a US citizen, was arrested in February during a business trip to Nigeria and faced serious charges, including money laundering of $35.4 million and tax evasion, charges which both he and Binance have denied.
His arrest was compounded by the escape of his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan dual national and former Africa regional manager for Binance, who was also taken into custody.
Last week, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced in an Abuja court that it had dropped the money laundering charges against Gambaryan to allow him to seek medical treatment abroad.
This decision prompted President Biden’s call to President Tinubu, reflecting the importance of the development.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, provided insights into the conversation, emphasizing that the call addressed both Gambaryan’s release and broader diplomatic relations.
“The discussions focused on collaboration between our two countries, especially in law enforcement and the implications of the recent case involving the cryptocurrency exchange,” Tuggar stated.
During the call, Biden expressed strong support for Nigeria’s aspiration for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, highlighting Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa and its contributions to global peacekeeping efforts.
Tuggar conveyed Biden’s commitment: “He reiterated that the future of the world resides in Africa, making it crucial for our partnership to thrive.”
President Tinubu reciprocated the appreciation, acknowledging the collaboration between Nigeria and the U.S. in various sectors.
“He emphasised the importance of security cooperation, particularly in West Africa,” Tuggar noted.
The two leaders also discussed the prospect of expanding Africa’s representation in the United Nations Security Council, with Biden reaffirming the U.S. commitment to securing two permanent seats for the continent.
“He specifically mentioned that there’s no reason why one of those seats shouldn’t be allocated to Nigeria, considering its stature and significance in Africa,” Tuggar added.
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