Philip Agbese, a member of the House of Representatives, has filed a lawsuit against Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance Holdings Limited executive, over defamatory charges.
Gambaryan posted on X on Friday about his encounters with Nigerian MPs.
Gambaryan alleged three members, including Peter Akpanke and Agbese, the House of Representatives’ deputy spokesperson, sought a $150 million bribe in cryptocurrencies to be paid into their wallets.
Agbese responded to the charges by claiming that he has never traded cryptocurrencies and does not own a crypto wallet.
The congressman further stated that he could not have requested monies to be credited to a “non-existent wallet”.
Agbese instructed Gambaryan to either publish any proof linking him to the bribery allegations, apologise within seven days, or face judicial consequences.
However, less than three days after releasing the declaration, the legislator filed a lawsuit in Maitama’s federal capital territory (FCT) high court, claiming N1.5 billion in damages.
He also asks the court to prevent Gambaryan and his friends from making further defamatory remarks about him.
Agbese further suggested that the Binance executive retract the piece and any subsequent publications about him.
In another statement made on Monday, the legislator stated that he decided to go to court notwithstanding Gambaryan’s earlier seven-day notice.
“So, three days after my stated deadline, after a careful analysis of his wild claims, which hold no water either in common sense or logic, I have today, Monday, February 17, 2025, instituted legal proceedings against Gambaryan, after he repeated his false allegations instead of retracting them,” the statement reads.
“I was compelled to approach the court because my reputation as a citizen, a distinguished congressman, and that of my country is at stake, such that if I failed to do this today, posterity, my children, and the generation unborn will not forgive me.
“The accuser, who made the false statements, is not in any way ready to apologize for defaming me. He has instead chosen to say he would like to be excused from making further comments on the issue because he wants to spend more time with his family.
“This is totally wrong. I am an African and have a larger family and more loved ones to stay with than Gambaryan. He must come to the court to prove his allegations or be ready to pay the compensation I have demanded.
“This is not for the billions that will come at the end of the day from Gambaryan but to serve as a deterrent to others like Gambaryan in the society who think falsehood is a strategy of getting away with their crimes against our country and humanity.”
