The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a compensation suit filed by former Binance Head of Financial Crime Compliance, Tigran Gambaryan, against the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Umar Mohammed, in a ruling delivered on Thursday, held that Gambaryan’s application was an attempt to use a fundamental rights suit to obstruct the lawful investigative powers of Nigerian authorities probing alleged foreign exchange violations and money laundering involving Binance.
Gambaryan, an American citizen, had sought damages, claiming his detention in Nigeria subjected him and his family to severe emotional and psychological distress.
He arrived in Nigeria on February 26, 2024, with colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla for official meetings but was later taken into custody.
His legal team argued that he was unlawfully detained between February 26–27 and again from March 12 to April 8, 2024. However, the EFCC and NSA insisted he was lawfully remanded and emphasized that he is currently facing criminal charges in case No. FHC/ABJ/CR/138/2024: FRN v. Binance Holdings Ltd & Anor, involving allegations of money laundering and forex infractions.
Justice Umar noted that Gambaryan had already been arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite, who refused him bail after establishing he posed a “flight risk.”
The judge stressed that fundamental rights “are not absolute” and may be restricted under certain circumstances. He added that no court could halt the investigative powers of security agencies such as the police or EFCC.
The court further ruled that Gambaryan failed to provide evidence of immunity from prosecution under Nigerian law.
Consequently, the suit was dismissed in its entirety and described as an abuse of court process.