Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, has reiterated his explosive claims that Nigerian government officials and legislators demanded bribes from him—even as the federal government continues to deny the allegations.
Gambaryan, detained in Nigeria from February to October 2024 as part of a broader investigation into alleged money laundering and economic destabilization linked to Binance, alleges that prominent lawmakers, including Philip Agbese, Ginger Onwusibe, and Peter Akpanke, solicited a staggering $150 million bribe to forestall his arrest.
He also accused National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu of seeking payouts from Binance to boost his political ambitions.
Using his social media platform, Gambaryan recounted firsthand experiences and conversations that led him to these conclusions, arguing that Nigerian law enforcement exploited his situation as leverage in negotiations with the US government.
In response, Minister of Information Mohammed Idris dismissed the claims as “outrageous” and “defamatory.”
Gambaryan, however, stood by his account, calling for independent investigations by both Nigerian and US authorities to bring clarity and accountability to the matter. He asserted that his revelations were meant to expose systemic corruption and urged a resolution that would restore his credibility and protect his family’s well-being.
