A Nigerian court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr. Abraham Ehizojie, a doctor at the Kuje Correctional Centre, where Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan is currently held. Reports indicate that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued the warrant after Ehizojie failed to present a medical report on Gambaryan in court.
The court had ordered the correctional facility to deliver the detained Binance executive’s medical report on or before the July 16 hearing. Gambaryanβs lawyer, Mark Mordi, requested the court to summon Ehizojie to explain why the medical reports were not made available.
During the latest hearing, a prison official confirmed that the order was delivered to the doctor, who was absent from court. As such, Mordi requested the court to issue the bench warrant and remand Gambaryan, who attended the hearing in a wheelchair, to a hospital. He stated:
“[Gambaryan] has been complaining of back pain. We need to be careful of the life in our hands.”
The Binance executive has been detained in Nigeria since February, facing money laundering charges and accusations of foreign exchange violations. During his detention, he tested positive for malaria. Moreover, during a hearing on May 23, he collapsed in open court due to deteriorating health conditions.
Several United States lawmakers have previously raised concerns over Gambaryanβs health and criticized the Kuje Prison, which they claim is designed to hold “ISIS combatants.” U.S. legislator French Hill visited the facility in June and reported that Gambaryan was suffering from malaria and double pneumonia. According to Hill, Gambaryan was being denied adequate medical attention and had lost weight.
In the recent hearing, Justice Nwite criticized Ehizojieβs actions and ordered that Gambaryan be taken to Nizamiye Hospital for a 24-hour medical checkup. The case has been adjourned until Oct. 11.
For more updates on cryptocurrency, investing, and finance news, continue exploring Global Crypto News.