Tinubu Allegedly Begged Biden for Praise in White House Statement as Condition for Binance Executive’s Release

New revelations have emerged about the diplomatic negotiations surrounding the release of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who was detained in Nigeria for eight months. According to a report by Wired, President Bola Tinubu allegedly insisted that the Biden administration publicly praise him in a White House statement as a condition for Gambaryan’s release.

Gambaryan, who was freed in October 2024, later learned that the White House’s statement of appreciation—thanking Tinubu for releasing him on “humanitarian” grounds—was part of a broader deal between the U.S. and Nigerian governments. The agreement also involved U.S. cooperation in Nigeria’s ongoing investigation into Binance.

Sources cited by Wired claimed that Tinubu’s strong desire to meet President Joe Biden at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) played a significant role in the decision to free Gambaryan. U.S. officials reportedly conveyed to the Nigerian government that the continued detention of the Binance executive could jeopardize any potential meeting between the two leaders.

The report further detailed that White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan personally reached out to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, urging Gambaryan’s release. Advocacy efforts from various parties also emphasized that his detention had become a diplomatic roadblock, troubling Nigerian officials who sought closer ties with Washington.

Tinubu’s alleged request for public praise aligns with broader efforts to rehabilitate his international image. A prior investigation by Peoples Gazette revealed that the Nigerian president had hired U.S. lobbyists to counter negative perceptions following allegations of past involvement in drug-related crimes and certificate forgery.

Gambaryan also shared additional insights into his detention, including how his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, managed to escape Nigeria by scaling a fence while security officials were asleep. He recounted interactions with disgraced former police officer Abba Kyari and alleged that Kuje prison officials demanded bribes worth thousands of dollars from him.

Gambaryan and Anjarwalla were initially detained in February 2023 after being invited to a meeting with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Nigerian authorities accused Binance of contributing to the devaluation of the country’s currency, leading to their arrest and prolonged detention.