The Nigerian government has responded strongly to accusations made by Tigran Gambaryan, a former Binance executive. They say his claims are false, misleading, and meant to damage the reputation of Nigerian officials.
Gambaryan and his colleague, Anjarwalla, were detained in Nigeria on February 26, 2024, over financial crimes.
While Anjarwalla escaped, Gambaryan remained in custody and was later charged with money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Authorities took action after the Central Bank of Nigeria revealed that $26 billion had passed through Binance without proper records.
Months later, the Nigerian government dropped charges against Gambaryan and Binance. In October 2024, the court ordered his release.
Recently, Gambaryan accused Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of requesting a bribe for his political campaign.
He also claimed that lawmakers, including Philip Agbese, demanded a $150 million bribe to be paid in cryptocurrency.
Agbese denied the accusations and challenged Gambaryan to provide evidence. He also threatened legal action if Gambaryan did not apologize within seven days.
In a statement, the Nigerian government dismissed Gambaryan’s claims as false. Officials stated:
- Gambaryan and his team first visited Nigeria voluntarily, and no official government involvement was recorded.
- When reports of bribery surfaced, an investigation was launched, but no formal complaint was made.
- Gambaryan’s second visit was part of a broader probe into Binance’s role in currency manipulation.
- The government rejected Binance’s offer of a $5 million payment for Gambaryan’s release and instead pursued a more beneficial agreement with the U.S. government.
The government emphasized that Gambaryan’s claims were baseless and aimed at discrediting those who held him accountable. They assured the public that both Nigerian and American courts would fairly handle the matter.
