Tigran Gambaryan, the Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, has finally been released from detention in Nigeria after spending eight long months in prison. This announcement was made by Binance in a statement shared with The PUNCH on Thursday.

Gambaryan, who is an American citizen, was allowed to leave Kuje prison last night. His health had suffered greatly during his time in custody, and he is now returning home to his family to get the medical attention he urgently needs.

The development follows a recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which dismissed the money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). During the court session, the EFCC explained that they could not proceed with the case because Gambaryan’s health had significantly declined.

A review by the Nigerian Correctional Service, backed by the Office of the National Security Adviser, revealed that Gambaryan’s condition had worsened to the point where he could hardly walk without a wheelchair.

In a statement following his release, Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, expressed immense relief, saying, “It is a huge relief that this day has finally come. The past eight months have been a living nightmare.” She also expressed gratitude to the U.S. government and supporters who helped them throughout this ordeal. Yuki emphasized that they can now focus on healing as a family, and their children are eager to see their dad again.

Back in February, Nigerian authorities detained Gambaryan and his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla, the regional manager for Africa at Binance. Both were charged with money laundering involving $35 million. While Anjarwalla managed to escape custody on March 22, Gambaryan faced court proceedings on April 8.

Now, with Gambaryan’s release, he and his family can finally begin the healing process after a challenging and distressing time.