Dr. Abraham Ehizojie, a medical doctor at the Kuje Correctional Centre, is facing a bench warrant for his arrest issued by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The warrant was issued because Ehizojie failed to provide a medical report for Tigran Gambaryan, an executive at Binance, or appear in court as previously ordered.
Justice Nwite had instructed the Nigerian Correctional Service to provide Gambaryan’s medical report, but it was not followed. Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, revealed this during the recent court session. A prison official confirmed that the court order was delivered to the doctor, but he did not show up in court.
Ekene Iheanacho, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), expressed surprise at the doctor’s absence. Mordi requested a bench warrant for the doctor and for Gambaryan to be remanded to a hospital for immediate medical diagnosis, citing his severe back pain and deteriorating health condition.
Justice Nwite criticized the disregard for court orders and issued the bench warrant for Dr. Ehizojie. He also ordered that Gambaryan be taken to Nizamiye Hospital for a 24-hour medical checkup under full security. The case was adjourned to October 11 for continuation.
Despite facing charges for money laundering and foreign exchange violations alongside Binance, Gambaryan’s family and legal team are pushing for his immediate medical treatment and release. His wife, Yuki, expressed deep concern over his health in a statement.
The Nigerian government has accused Binance and its executives, including Gambaryan, of conspiring to conceal the origins of $35,400,000 in financial proceeds from alleged unlawful activities in Nigeria. Binance is also dealing with a separate lawsuit from the Federal Inland Revenue Service for tax evasion.
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