Mayor Mike Arnold of Blanco, Texas, has urged the Nigerian government to dismiss allegations made by cryptocurrency platform Binance, claiming that an unnamed Nigerian official demanded a $150 million bribe. The alleged bribe was said to be aimed at thwarting the investigation and trial of the company’s executives.
Binance’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Richard Teng, on Tuesday, alleged that some persons in Nigeria bribe in digital currency to terminate the problems its officials has with then government.
Teng’s allegation came on the heels of the detention of the company’s Regional Manager for Africa, Mr Nadeem Anjarwalla, and Head of Financial Crime Compliance in Nigeria, Mr Tigran Gambaryan, on 28 February 2024 for foreign exchange manipulation and illegal operation in Nigeria.
A federal government official denied the allegation yesterday, alleging that it is sheer blackmail that will be thoroughly investigated.
But Arnold asked the Federal Government to dismiss the allegation, saying it was the habitual pastime of Binance to blackmail its way out of serious criminal investigation and trial.
“Given that we in the United States have our own experience with Binance, I am inclined to believe that this allegation is an attempt by the crypto exchange to escape the Nigerian charges,” the Mayor of Blanco, Texas, said in a statement.
According to him he was conversant with many top Nigerian officials, who he said, were diligent in the discharge of their duties.
“I do not believe this story. Not even for one second. Not at all. I know officials of the current Nigerian administration, who are some of the finest specimens of gentlemanliness,” he added.
Stating that he had just returned from Nigeria, Arnold challenged Binance officials to come clean with the officials demanding the bribe from it instead of splashing mud on every Nigerian official.
The mayor said: “However, I will give Binance the benefit of the doubt and ask them not to make blanket allegations, but to mention names. Who demanded bribes. Surely not ghosts. They must have names. Mentionable names. And if their story is true, Binance is challenged to come clean with the who, what, where and when.”
Source: The Nation