How ‘Ribadu Demanded Billions to Fund His Political Ambition’ – Tigran Gambaryan

Tigran Gambaryan, former Head of Financial Crime Compliance, has accused Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of demanding billions to fund his political ambitions. Gambaryan alleged that Ribadu’s plan was thwarted after a corruption scandal came to light.

In 2024, Gambaryan was arrested by the Nigerian government and arraigned on money laundering charges. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him in April of that year following a crackdown on a cryptocurrency firm accused of manipulating the naira. However, the charges were later dropped.

Reflecting on his eight-month ordeal, Gambaryan took to X (formerly Twitter) to detail his experiences and Ribadu’s alleged role. He claimed that their working relationship with Nigerian law enforcement was strong until greed undermined the collaboration. According to Gambaryan, Ribadu sought billions in payouts to support his political aspirations but was ultimately caught in a scandal that made any potential settlement appear as a bribe.

Gambaryan further alleged that Nigerian authorities exerted pressure on Nizamiya Hospital to refuse him medical treatment during a severe illness and withheld his medical records from his legal team. This claim, he stated, was later verified by the Turkish Ministry of Health.

He also accused Ribadu of hiring a U.S. law firm to negotiate his release, which he said failed due to incompetence and greed. Moreover, he claimed Ribadu embarrassed Nigeria on the international stage, straining diplomatic relations with the U.S. government. He asserted that Ribadu’s actions angered the White House, leading to limited visas for the Nigerian delegation at the United Nations General Assembly and President Joe Biden’s refusal to meet with President Bola Tinubu until Gambaryan’s case was resolved.

Gambaryan concluded his post by stating that Ribadu had overestimated his influence, turning what was supposed to be a strategic move into an international scandal. He expressed disappointment in Nigeria’s leadership but acknowledged that he met many remarkable individuals during his time in the country.