Tigran Gambaryan's health has taken a serious turn for the worse. The Binance executive, who has been dealing with back issues and malaria, couldn't make it to court for his trial. U.S. officials are calling for his release.

In recent months, Gambaryan has fought through the effects of malaria while managing significant back pain. He even showed up to court on crutches to defend himself. But on Friday, he was too ill to appear. A prison official told Justice Emeka Nwite that Gambaryan couldn't attend due to his health. “My boss just told me that he is very sick and that is the reason why he cannot be produced in court today,” the officer said.

This news has been hard on his family. “This whole ordeal has been devastating for our family, and the way Tigran has been treated is so disheartening,” said Yuki, his wife. She shared her feelings through a family spokesperson. “My husband is very sick, and we are all so tired of this injustice. Please just let him come home.”

Unfortunately, this is just another setback for Gambaryan. He faces money laundering charges linked to a long-standing dispute between the Nigerian government and Binance. Both he and the company deny these charges. His lawyer has even called the prosecution “state-sponsored hostage taking.”

Despite appeals from the Biden Administration and U.S. Congress members for his release on humanitarian grounds, Gambaryan has been denied bail due to a technicality. On Friday, his lawyer, Mark Mordi, asked for a delay to check on his health. The judge agreed and postponed the trial to October 25.

Last week, the judge rejected Gambaryan’s bail request again, stating that poor health isn’t enough reason for bail. A source close to the situation said Gambaryan is “in a bad way.”

As the head of Binance’s financial crimes compliance unit, Gambaryan was detained in Nigeria back in February after attending a meeting with government officials. He has been held in Kuje prison since April 8, and his health issues have been a recurring problem during the trial.

Gambaryan has faced severe health challenges, having collapsed in court during earlier sessions and suffering from malaria and pneumonia. His prison conditions, described as “horrible” by visiting U.S. lawmakers, have made his existing back problems worse. He suffers from a herniated disc that requires specialized surgery. He relies on crutches to walk and is also dealing with tonsillitis.

Nigerian officials, however, downplay the severity of his health issues. They claim Gambaryan is receiving adequate medical care. The judge ruled last week that he can be treated at “any standard hospital” in Nigeria.

Osato Avan-Nomayo is our Nigeria-based DeFi correspondent. He covers DeFi and tech. If you have tips or information about stories, feel free to reach out to him at [email protected].