World’s largest cryptocurrency trade platform, Binance, has raised the alarm over prolonged detention of its officials, Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and British-Kenyan Nadeem Anjarwalla, by the Federal Government Nigerian authorities without court order.

In a statement on Thursday, the cryptocurrency platform said its “employees are held in Abuja” by Nigerian authorities despite no court order sanctioning their detention. 

“At the court hearing in Abuja today, which was attended by Tigran and Nadeem, the court ruled that after hearing arguments from both parties, they would resume the session on April 5 which is 10 working days from today. 

“This ruling came after the original court order to hold Nadeem and Tigran expired on March 12 and a request for a new order was filed by the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The judge did not grant an extension to this order,” Binance said.

Peoples Gazette reached out to Dele Oyewale, spokesperson for the EFCC, on Thursday for comment on Binance’s statement. But Mr Oyewale did not take calls.

According to Binance’s statement, the families of Messrs Gambaryan and Anjarwalla, have been distressed following detention of their loved ones for over three weeks.

Wife of one of the detained Binance officials, Elahe Anjarwalla, was quoted in the statement as saying, “Nigerian authorities please allow him and Tigran to return home whilst they continue their discussions with Binance. 

“I am also calling on the British and Kenyan governments to do more to get Nadeem back home to us. Please, we just want this nightmare to end.”

Last week Saturday, The Gazette reported that the EFCC approached the court to get a fresh court to detain the duo after first court order expired on March 12.

Amid clampdown on Binance by the Tinubu-led government in efforts to save the naira against the dollar, Binance exited the Nigerian market and discontinued every naira-related transaction on its platform.

The Tinubu-led government also demanded that the cryptocurrency platform furnish it with a list of top Nigerian Binance users and their transaction details to release their officials held hostage. 

On Monday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court ordered Binance Holdings Limited to provide the EFCC with comprehensive information on all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.