The Federal Government has officially denied allegations made by Tigran Gambaryan, a US-based Binance executive, against Nigerian government officials.
Gambaryan was previously tried in Nigeria for financial crimes but was released in October 2024 on humanitarian grounds, thanks to diplomatic efforts.
A statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation Mr. Mohammed Idris, described Gambaryan’s allegations as outrageous, unsubstantiated, and lacking credibility.
It said Gambaryan’s motive was to discredit and intimidate those who ensured he faced justice.
The government advised the public to exercise caution and disregard Gambaryan’s “unfounded and malicious claims.”
Idris also provided context to Gambaryan’s visits to Nigeria, stating that his first visit was discretionary and not officially sanctioned by the government.
“However, an investigation was opened into an alleged bribery demand during that trip.
“Gambaryan’s second visit was part of a wider probe into the criminal manipulation of the Nigerian currency through peer-to-peer platforms like Binance.
“The Federal Government rejected Binance’s offer of a $5 million down payment in exchange for Gambaryan’s freedom, opting instead for a more beneficial settlement with the American government.
“The Nigerian government is confident that both the Nigerian and American judicial systems will provide Gambaryan with a fair opportunity to substantiate his claims in court,” the minister said.
Earlier, Gambaryan, the Head of Financial Crime Compliance at cryptocurrency firm Binance, made a shocking allegations against three Nigerian lawmakers, accusing them of demanding a $150 million bribe from him.
The Binance Cryptocurrency boss, who spent eight months in a Nigerian detention facility over alleged corruption, named Philip Agbese, Ginger Onwusibe, and Peter Akpanke as the lawmakers involved in the alleged bribery scheme.
According to Gambaryan, the lawmakers demanded the bribe in cryptocurrency to be paid into their personal wallets.
He claimed that the meeting was set up to appear official, with fake cameras and media present, but the cameras were not even plugged in.
Gambaryan described the incident as a “Mickey Mouse operation at its best”.
The allegations have sparked a reaction from Agbese, who denied any involvement in the alleged bribery scheme.
Agbese, who serves as the Deputy spokesman of the House, called on Gambaryan to provide evidence to support his claims, threatening consequences if the allegations are proven false.
Gambaryan’s allegations came after he and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were detained by Nigerian authorities and charged with money laundering involving $35 million.
Anjarwalla escaped from custody in March 2024, while Gambaryan was released in October 2024 following the intervention of the United States government.
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