The Head of financial crime at cryptocurrency firm Binance, Tigran Gambaryan, who spent many months in a Nigerian detention facility over alleged corruption, has identified three Nigerian lawmakers who allegedly demanded a bribe of $150m from him. Gambaryan and another staff member of Binance had been arrested and detained by the Nigerian government, which accused the firm of perpetuating money laundering acts in the country....Read Full Article >>➤
However, he was released after the charges were dropped following the intervention of the United States Government. While in detention, the Binance boss said some lawmakers in the House of Representatives demanded bribes from him to avoid security agencies from swooping on him.
Taking to his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, Gambaryan named Philip Agbese, Ginger Onwusibe and Peter Akpanke, all members of the House, as the men who allegedly demanded the huge sum from him.
Onwusibe, who represents Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South Federal Constituency, Abia State, chairs the House Committee on Anti-Corruption.
Gambaryan’s post on X read in part, “The DSS was involved in the House of Representatives matter. We met with them at their office on Friday, January 5, 2024, as a prerequisite to our meeting with the House of Representatives. They alluded to the fact that we had to comply with whatever the House members instructed us to do.
“At the House meeting, there were three members present. Two of them were Peter Akpanke and Philip Agbese, both working under the leadership of Ginger Obinna Onwusibe. There was a third House member, but I don’t recall his name. They set up fake cameras and media to make the meeting appear official, but the cameras weren’t even plugged in. As you may already know, this ended with them asking for a $150m bribe, paid in cryptocurrency into their personal wallets. A Mickey Mouse operation at its best.”
Reacting to the development, Agbese, who doubles as the deputy spokesman forthe House, called on the Binance boss to support his claims with evidence or face the consequences.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the Benue lawmaker said, “I am outraged by the false allegations made by Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of the controversial crypto firm Binance, claiming that I was among those who demanded a $150m bribe from him.
“These allegations are false. I was not part of any meeting with any Binance executive regarding money for any purpose. The leadership of the committee took the matter to court, and Binance has already apologised.
“Let it be on record that I am not a member of the Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes. I visited my colleague, Hon Peter Akpanke, in his office, where he was meeting with some visitors about an activity of his committee, with Hon Peter Anakwe, a member of the committee present. We exchanged pleasantries and, in character with my person as an avid pursuer of knowledge, discussed Binance’s activities that did not include any demand from anyone.
“It was during this visit to the office of Hon Akpanke, with Hon Anekwe present, that he told me they were interfacing with the Binance team from abroad over a referral to their committee. What transpired between the two of them and the Binance executive after I left the office is left to them.
“I never saw those visitors again after that chance meeting and did not afterwards attend any meeting with Binance executives, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or the Department of State Services.
“I am aware that when this issue was first raised, the chairman of the committee went to court and Binance apologised. So, all inquiries should be directed to the committee, not to Hon. Philip Agbese.”
He noted that the world of cryptocurrency was new to him, adding, “I have never used any cryptocurrency as I do not have a crypto wallet anywhere in the world. I could not have asked for funds to be credited to a non-existent wallet.
“Gambaryan and his associate, who escaped from prison, should return to the EFCC and defend themselves. Instead of trying to implicate me, they should focus on addressing the allegations against them.”
On his part, Onwusibe declined to comment when contacted by Saturday PUNCH, saying, “ I’m already in court with them on this same issue. I don’t need to respond again as I briefed the press on this last year when it happened.”
Efforts to reach Akpanke for his comment were not fruitful.
FG dismisses allegations
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, dismissed Gambaryan’s allegations, describing them as falsehoods intended to discredit those who ensured he faced justice.
In a statement on Friday, Idris maintained that while the government was reluctant to engage Gambaryan, given the high-level diplomatic intervention that resolved his case, it was necessary to set the record straight to prevent his “falsehoods” from gaining traction.
“The first visit by Mr Gambaryan and his colleagues to Nigeria was discretionary on their part, and the government was not officially involved.
“However, when the government’s attention was drawn to an alleged bribery demand during that trip, an investigation was immediately opened, even though there was no formal complaint by anyone,” Idris said.
He noted that Gambaryan’s second visit to Nigeria was part of a broader investigation into the criminal manipulation of Nigerian currency through peer-to-peer platforms like Binance.
However, he said the investigation was hindered by the tactics deployed by Gambaryan and his team.
The minister added, “Mr Gambaryan was released by the Nigerian government in October 2024 on humanitarian grounds and following a high-level diplomatic intervention that resulted in tangible benefits for Nigeria.
“The government rejected Binance’s offer of a $5m down payment in exchange for Mr Gambaryan’s freedom, opting instead for a more beneficial settlement with the American government.
“The Nigerian and American judicial systems will provide Gambaryan with a fair opportunity to substantiate his claims in court,” the statement read. ...Read Full Article >>➤
Be the first to comment