Nigerian Government has rejected the bribery claims made by Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of Binance Holdings Limited, labeling them as false and lacking evidence.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a recent post on X, Gambaryan detailed his encounters with the Nigerian government and certain lawmakers. He alleged that three lawmakers, including Peter Akpanke and Philip Agbese, solicited a $150 million bribe in cryptocurrency, demanding the funds be transferred into their wallets. Additionally, he accused Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser, of seeking “billions in payouts from Binance for political ambitions.”
Gambaryan’s detention by the Nigerian government spanned from February 2024 to October 2024, primarily related to Binance’s operations within the country. Furthermore, the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes conducted an investigation into the cryptocurrency company.
In response to Gambaryan’s allegations, Mohammed Idris, the minister of information and national orientation, characterized his statements as “outrageous allegations, misinformation, and defamatory statements.” Idris also confirmed that the federal government had turned down a $5 million proposal from Binance aimed at securing Gambaryan’s release, indicating a preference for a more advantageous resolution with the US government.
“While the Federal Government of Nigeria is hesitant to engage Mr. Gambaryan, given the high-level diplomatic intervention that resolved his case, we are obliged to set the records straight to stop his falsehoods from gaining ground,” the statement reads.
“The first visit by Mr. Gambaryan and his colleagues to Nigeria was discretional on their part, and the government was not officially involved.
“However, when the attention of the government was called to an alleged bribery demand during that trip, an investigation was immediately opened into it, though there was no formal complaint by anyone.
“Mr. Gambaryan’s second visit to Nigeria was part of a wider probe into the criminal manipulation of the Nigerian currency through peer-to-peer platforms like Binance, but investigators were frustrated by the tactics deployed by Gambaryan and his team.
“Mr. Gambaryan was released by the Nigerian government in October 2024 on humanitarian grounds and following a high-level diplomatic intervention that ended with tangible benefits for Nigeria.”
“The government rejected Binance’s offer of a $5 million down payment in exchange for Mr. Gambaryan’s freedom in favour of a more beneficial settlement with the American government.
“We categorically deny the retaliatory claims made by Mr. Gambaryan against Nigerian officials involved in his case, and we urge the public to disregard these false accusations in their entirety.
“It is essential to note that Mr. Gambaryan’s allegations are not only unsubstantiated but also lack credibility, given his apparent motive to discredit and intimidate those who ensured he faced justice.”
Idris said the Nigerian and American judicial systems will provide Gambaryan with a fair opportunity to substantiate his claims in court.
The minister advised the public not to be swayed by Gambaryan’s “unfounded and malicious claims”.
