Last week, a Nigerian judge directed prison officials to transfer detained Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan for treatment after he collapsed in court.
Yet Nigeria’s Correctional Service ― which runs the country’s prison system ― has disregarded the court order, according to Yuki Gambaryan, Tigran’s wife, and a government official familiar with the matter.
As a result, Gambaryan, who is suffering from malaria and a severe throat infection, has been denied access to a hospital.
‘Devastated and shocked’
Instead, he is being treated in a clinic at Kuje Prison, which is poorly supplied and in dire need of refurbishment according to DL News.
“I am devastated and shocked that, despite the court’s clear directive for his admission to a hospital, the authorities have not allowed him to leave the very prison causing his illness,” Yuki said in a statement sent to DL News on Tuesday.
While delaying compliance or outrightly disobeying court orders is de rigueur among Nigerian officials according to DL News, Gambaryan’s ordeal seems connected to attempts by prosecutors and prison authorities to block his transfer to Nizamiye Hospital ― the preferred facility prescribed by his lawyers