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The Federal Government of Nigeria and members of the House of Representatives have strongly denied allegations made by Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, that National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu and three lawmakers demanded a $150 million bribe from him.
Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, made the claims on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that the lawmakers set up a fake official meeting where they requested the payment in cryptocurrency. His accusations sparked outrage from government officials and lawmakers, who dismissed them as false and defamatory.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, condemned the allegations, calling them “outrageous and untrue.” He urged Nigerians to disregard Gambaryan’s claims, insisting that the government had no involvement in any bribery scheme.
Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Philip Agbese, gave Gambaryan a seven-day ultimatum to retract his statement or face legal action. He described the accusations as baseless and demanded evidence to support them.
Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, also dismissed the claims, calling them “a lie from the pit of hell.” Meanwhile, the third lawmaker mentioned, Peter Akpanke, could not be reached for comment.
Binance’s Legal Troubles in Nigeria
Gambaryan was arrested in Nigeria in February 2024 and charged, alongside Binance, with laundering $35.4 million—a charge they denied. The Nigerian government accused Binance of currency speculation and influencing exchange rates, contributing to the naira’s freefall.
His colleague, Binance’s Africa regional manager Nadeem Anjarwalla, escaped from custody shortly after both men were placed under house arrest. While the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) later dropped charges against Gambaryan for medical reasons, separate tax evasion charges against Binance remain.
FG Dismisses Allegations as Retaliatory
In response to Gambaryan’s claims, Minister Idris stated that his release in October 2024 was due to diplomatic intervention, emphasizing that the Nigerian government rejected a $5 million offer from Binance in favor of a more beneficial settlement with the U.S. government.
“The Nigerian government categorically denies these retaliatory claims,” Idris said. “They are unsubstantiated, lack credibility, and appear to be an attempt to discredit and intimidate officials who ensured justice was served.”
Reps Demand Retraction, Threaten Legal Action
Philip Agbese, one of the lawmakers mentioned, challenged Gambaryan to present evidence of the alleged bribery demand.
“I have never used cryptocurrency and do not own a crypto wallet,” Agbese said. “I demand that he either provides proof or issues a retraction and public apology within seven days, or he will face legal action.”
Onwusibe, who had previously sued Binance for defamation, reiterated that he had no personal contact with Gambaryan or any Binance executive.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach Peter Akpanke for comments were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to his mobile phone went unanswered.
Omokri: Binance Executive’s Claims a ‘Distraction’
Social critic Reno Omokri dismissed Gambaryan’s allegations as a deliberate distraction from recent claims by a U.S. congressman that USAID had funded Boko Haram.
According to Omokri, Gambaryan’s accusations surfaced just an hour after U.S. Congressman Scott Perry made his statement about USAID’s alleged terror funding.
“Malam Nuhu Ribadu is an incorruptible leader who once refused a $15 million cash bribe and deposited it at the Central Bank of Nigeria,” Omokri said. “Meanwhile, Gambaryan worked against Nigeria’s economic interests. Who should we believe?”
The controversy surrounding Binance and its executives continues to unfold, as legal battles persist and tensions between the cryptocurrency platform and Nigerian authorities remain high.
