Court Issues Bench Warrant Against Kuje Prison Doctor Over Gambaryan’s Health

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant against a Medical Doctor at the Kuje Correctional Centre’s health facility, Abraham Ehizojie, for not presenting the medical report of Binance executive Tygran Gambaryan or appearing in court on Tuesday.

Justice Nwite had ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) medical doctor to produce the medical reports of Gambaryan, warning the correctional service against non-compliance with the court’s directives.

He added that the medical practitioner at the custodial service will have to appear in court if the medical report was not produced in court.

At the proceedings on Tuesday, Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, said in open court that the judge’s order had not been complied with.

The judge then asked a prison official who brought the Binance executive to court about the development.

The prison official said he got the court order and delivered the order to the medical doctor last week Tuesday, adding “He is not here and I expected him to be here.”

The EFCC counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, told the judge that he thought that the medical officer will be in court.

Mordi then said the court should issue a bench warrant against the medical officer of the prison service and that his client be remanded in a hospital immediately so that he can be diagnosed to see what his true state of health is.

“My client came in here in a wheelchair. He has been complaining of back pain.

“We need to be careful of the life in our hands,” Mordi said.

Iheanacho said he did not dispute the fact that the defendant should be given adequate treatment but he had issues with the suspect being remanded in hospital custody.

After hearing from the lawyers, Justice Nwite said it was unfortunate that government institutions will be treating his orders with levity.

“I hereby make an order of bench warrant on the medical doctor at the Kuje Correctional Service, Abraham to appear before this court.

He also ordered that Gambaryan be taken to the Nizamiye Hospital for a medical checkup for 24 hours, at any time of his choice but under full security.

The case was then adjourned to October 11, 2024, for continuation of trial.

Recall that Gambaryan’s family had raised alarm over his health status while urging the EFCC to free him and follow up on its case with the cryptocurrency trading firm Binance.