Binance Executive Insists Nigerian Officials Demanded Bribe Despite FG Denial

Tigran Gambaryan, a senior executive at Binance, has reiterated allegations that Nigerian government officials and House of Representatives members solicited bribes from him, despite denials from the federal government.

Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, was detained in Nigeria from February to October 2024 as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering and economic destabilization linked to Binance’s activities in the country.

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Gambaryan claimed that certain Nigerian lawmakers demanded substantial cryptocurrency bribes, amounting to $150 million, in exchange for preventing his arrest and prosecution. He named three federal legislators—Philip Agbese, Ginger Onwusibe, and Peter Akpanke—as those allegedly involved. Additionally, he accused National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu of seeking significant payouts from Binance to fund his political ambitions.

The Nigerian government, through Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, dismissed the allegations as “outrageous” and “defamatory.” Idris asserted that the federal government had rejected a $5 million offer from Binance to secure Gambaryan’s release, opting instead for negotiations with the U.S. government.

Gambaryan, however, maintained that he was used as a bargaining tool in diplomatic negotiations. He stated, “I was invited by the Nigerian FIU to a meeting in January. Last time I checked, they are part of the Nigerian government. House members also invited us to the meeting. Last time I checked, the legislative branch is also part of the Nigerian government.”

Describing his ordeal, Gambaryan alleged that he was held in a safe house for a month before being charged with false accusations. He also questioned the credibility of the investigation, stating, “You investigated? Yet you didn’t take a statement from me? A person with direct knowledge? What a joke.”

He further emphasized that his allegations were based on personal experiences and shared information with both Nigerian and U.S. law enforcement agencies. While expressing a desire to move on, he asserted that it was now up to law enforcement in both countries to pursue further investigations.

Reflecting on his traumatic experience, Gambaryan stated, “I don’t want to see my kids cry because I’m not around. I don’t want to see my 75-year-old mother on television in tears. I don’t want to see my wife crying on TV. I want to put this nightmare behind me and move on.”