Detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, has initiated legal action against the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Gambaryan sued Ribadu and EFCC over the alleged violation of his fundamental rights.
In the originating motion dated and filed March 18 by his lawyer, the Binance executive sought five reliefs before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
Also, Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance Africa regional manager who escaped from lawful custody on March 22, filed a separate right enforcement suit before Justice Ekwo.
Both had sued the Office of NSA and EFCC as 1st and 2nd respondents, seeking the same relief.
Gambaryan, a US citizen overseeing financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform, in his application, sought a declaration that his detention and seizure of his international travel passport contravened Section 35 (1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended).
He said the act amounted to a violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty as guaranteed by the Constitution.
He also sought an order directing the respondents to release him from their custody and return his international travel passport with immediate effect.
Gambaryan equally sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and agents from further detaining him concerning any investigation into or demands from Binance.
The official, who sought an order for the respondents to issue a public apology to him, also prayed for the cost of this action on a full indemnity basis.
In a statement in support of the suit, he said he is an American citizen who visited Nigeria on Feb. 26 February, along with fleeing Nadeem Anjarwalla, as a representative of Binance, to honour the invitation of the ONSA and EFCC to discuss issues relating to Binance in Nigeria.
Giving an 11-ground argument as to why his application should be granted, he said he and his colleague, Anjarwalla, dutifully attended the meeting.
He said after the meeting the two of them were detained by the respondents and had remained in detention since then.
He said he did not commit any offence during the meeting, and neither was he informed in writing of any offence he personally committed in Nigeria at any other time.
Justice Ekwo consequently adjourned the matter until April 8 for further mention
