Knarik Gambaryan, the mother of Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive detained in Nigeria, has implored President Bola Tinubu’s government to release her son from prison.

“It breaks my heart because they are treating my son not like a human,” Mrs Gambaryan was quoted to have said in a report by Bloomberg on Friday.

She expressed her belief in her son’s innocence, pleading for assistance: “I am begging everybody who can help my son. Just please bring my son home. That’s all we need.”

In a poignant appeal, Mrs Gambaryan offered to exchange herself for her son, saying, “Just take me, exchange me with my son. I don’t care what will happen to me; just let my son go home!”

Mr Gambaryan has been incarcerated in Kuje Prison for over 200 days since his detention began in February. His case is part of a broader legal dispute between the Nigerian government and the cryptocurrency firm Binance.

He and his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla were arrested on 26 February following an official invitation from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Nigerian authorities have accused Binance of facilitating currency speculation that undermines the naira.

While Mr Anjarwalla managed to escape detention and leave Nigeria in March, Mr Gambaryan remains in custody, with concerns growing over his deteriorating health.

Binance has repeatedly urged the Nigerian government to release him to facilitate ongoing negotiations. Although a tax charge against him has recently been dropped, the authorities insist he still has a case to answer.