Prison officials rejected Gambaryan’s request for a wheelchair. This situation revealed Gambaryan’s difficult conditions and health problems.

In a video published on the X (formerly Twitter) platform on Monday afternoon, Gambaryan can be seen in a difficult situation and asking for help from a prison officer accompanying him.

In the video, Gambaryan was holding on to the officer’s wrist, saying, “I’m not okay, this is a terrible situation.” When the officer refused to support Gambaryan, Gambaryan had to hold on to his single cane and said to a group of onlookers around:

“He was told not to help me. There was instruction – this sucks. Why can’t I use a fucking wheelchair? It’s a show. I am an innocent person. Why are you doing this to me?” he called out.

After a series of painful steps, Gambaryan tried to hold the officer’s arm again, but the officer pulled his arm and said, “Please don’t hold on to me. “You can walk,” he said. Gambaryan said: “Damn I can’t walk, my spine – it’s terrible. “I am a human being,” he replied. “Damn, I’m not okay,” he was seen saying on video.

Gambaryan’s lawyers filed a new request for release on health grounds on Monday. They asked the court to release Gambaryan and receive medical care for health problems that developed in prison.

These health problems include malaria, pneumonia, tonsillitis and herniated disc. The herniated disc left Gambaryan in severe pain and unable to walk. One report is that medical reports indicate the need for urgent surgery, but important elements such as an MRI scan are missing.

While Gambaryan’s lawyers called for his immediate release due to his existing health problems, a prosecutor acting on behalf of the EFCC opposed the application for release, claiming that Gambaryan refused treatment for his health condition. Gambaryan’s previous application for release was rejected in May.

Kuje prison officials had previously refused to release Gambaryan’s medical records, but some records were presented to the court at Monday’s hearing, according to a family spokesman. Although these records showed the need for urgent surgery, a full evaluation could not be made due to missing documentation.

Gambaryan’s family and lawyers say that in addition to adequate medical care, Gambaryan was also denied access to his lawyers and US consulate staff. Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, emphasized that the situation was completely unfair and stated that the US government should provide more aid.

“I demand that they use all available means to release an innocent American,” Yuki said. This situation is humane and degrading. “There must be consequences for being so indifferent to law and human rights,” he said.

Gambaryan, a former US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officer and Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, was detained shortly after voluntarily traveling to Abuja at the invitation of the Nigerian government.

Initially, Gambaryan and Binance’s Regional Manager for Africa, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were placed under house arrest. But after Anjarwalla’s mysterious escape in March, Gambaryan was transferred to the notoriously dangerous Kuje prison and charged with tax evasion and money laundering.

Tax evasion charges were later dropped, but Gambaryan’s money laundering case has been ongoing since June. So far, the US government has not made any public statements about Gambaryan’s situation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that they were aware of the detention reports in March, but did not mention Gambaryan’s name.