Sixteen members of the United States House of Representatives have petitioned President Joe Biden, urging him to intervene in the case of Tigran Gambaryan, a detained Binance executive, and secure his return to the U.S. from Nigeria.

Gambaryan was arrested by the Nigerian government in February and initially held at a guest house before formal charges were brought against him and Binance in an Abuja court in April. He and the company face accusations including non-payment of value-added tax, corporate income tax, and aiding customers in tax evasion.

“On behalf of Mr. Gambaryan, his family, and concerned Americans, we urgently request and strongly encourage the transfer of his case to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter made public by Fox Business correspondent Eleanor Terrett. They argue that Gambaryan qualifies as a “U.S. citizen wrongfully detained by a foreign government” and that his detention has been marked by “excessive and harsh treatment.”

The legislators highlighted concerns about Gambaryan’s health and well-being, fearing for his life and stressing the need for immediate action. The group of lawmakers includes House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas. They claim Gambaryan, Binance’s chief of financial compliance, has been “wrongfully detained” since late February after he met with the Nigerian government to discuss Binance’s operations in the country.

The lawmakers accuse the Nigerian government of taking Gambaryan hostage and have called on the U.S. government to help free him. They also noted Gambaryan’s significant contributions as a former IRS agent involved in major cyber investigations, including the seizure of $4.725 billion in illicit funds.

This petition marks the most high-profile move concerning Gambaryan’s case, following persistent appeals from his family for government intervention.

Tigran Gambaryan’s legal team has informed the Nigerian Federal High Court that he is “very ill” and requires immediate medical attention. Gambaryan reportedly collapsed during a court hearing related to his alleged involvement in Binance’s legal violations in Nigeria.

Although Justice Emeka Nwite ordered his transfer to a hospital, Gambaryan’s family has claimed he has not been moved. They suspect he has malaria and a severe throat infection. A family spokeswoman told FOX Business that Gambaryan was briefly hospitalized but returned to prison, where his health continues to decline due to inadequate treatment.

Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki Gambaryan, expressed her frustration over the 100-day ordeal, hoping the recent appeal by U.S. lawmakers will lead to swift action to bring her husband home.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that due process is being followed in Gambaryan’s trial. The minister emphasized that Gambaryan has received consular access and that the court denied bail because he is considered a flight risk following the escape of his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla from the country.