Tuesday, September 17, 2024 -US Representative James Hill (R-AR) has issued a warning to the government of President Bola Tinubu.
Hill warned that the prolonged detention of Binance Executive Tigran
Gambaryan in Nigeria could jeopardise bilateral relations between the two
countries.
Hill made this known in a statement via his verified X handle on
Tuesday.
He wrote, “I’m surprised
Nigeria, a country considered a friend to America, is holding a US citizen in
detention over a matter he’s not directly involved in. I urge President Biden
to push harder for his release.”
Hill, who serves as Vice Chairman of the House Financial Services
Committee and Chairman of the subcommittee overseeing digital assets and
financial technology, emphasized Gambaryan’s contributions to combating
cybercrime.
According to him, Tigran has helped America bust many cybercrime rings
and It’s time to return the favour.
This comes as Gambaryan’s case continues to linger, with many
calling for his immediate release.
Gambaryan has spent six months in detention, facing charges of tax
evasion and other financial crimes in Nigeria.
However, this is not the first time Hill is making a strong case
for Gambaryan, urging Biden’s government to put more effort towards getting him
out of detention.
In June, Hill and another lawmaker Rep. Chrissy Houlahan,
Democrat, representing Pennyslyvania, had called for the release of the Binance
Executive.
The lawmakers said they called for his release due to the
condition they met him in prison when they visited him.
“We have asked the U.S. embassy to advocate for the humanitarian release
of Gambaryan because of the horrible conditions in the prison, his innocence
and his health.
“We have a taskforce in Congress that is on Americans wrongfully
detained abroad, or held hostage. Clearly in our view, Tigran fits in that
camp,” Hill and Houlahan stated.
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