Tigran Gambaryan, the Binance executive, insists Nigerian officials demanded a bribe from him despite the federal government’s denial.
Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, was detained in Nigeria between February and October 2024.
According to the federal authorities, his detention was part of a larger investigation into alleged money laundering and economic destabilisation linked to Binance’s operations in Nigeria.
Gambaryan recounted his experience in a post on X, formerly Twitter, alleging that certain Nigerian MPs requested hefty cryptocurrency bribes. He accused three MPs of seeking a $150 million bribe.
He also stated that Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, demanded large sums of money from Binance in exchange for his political ambitions.
In response, Nigeria’s minister of communication and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, called Gambaryan’s charges “outrageous” and “defamatory”.
Idris stated that the Nigerian government rejected Binance’s $5 million offer to secure Gambaryan’s release, instead settling for a more beneficial deal with the US authorities.
He stated that Gambaryan’s statements lack credibility and appear to be an attempt to smear Nigerian officials.
In another remark on his X handle, the Binance official claimed that the federal government used him as leverage to reach a favourable deal with the US government.
“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,” he said.
“You said the second part was part of a probe? Lol. So when you invited us to a friendly meeting, you even lied about that?
“I was in a safe house for a month, watching TV, while you were trying to use me as leverage. You then panicked and knowingly charged me with blatantly false accusations.
“So I was released on humanitarian grounds? At least you’re finally admitting the need to release me. Last time you posted, you claimed my health was fine and that there was nothing wrong with me.
“You investigated? Yet you didn’t take a statement from me? A person with direct knowledge. What a joke.
“You dragged my name through the mud for the past year with zero evidence against me, nearly killed me, and caused trauma to my family. And now you have the nerve to talk about defamation?
“I’ll put my credibility on the line anytime. In court? You mean like last time, when your attorneys didn’t even show up to the human rights suit in Abuja?
“Get your facts straight. I am done with this foolishness. I said my part. I’ll be off Twitter now since it’s pointless to argue with evil.”
