LunagisthubNigerian Government Fires Back at Binance Executive’s Bribery Allegations
The Nigerian government has dismissed allegations made by Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime, claiming that three Nigerian lawmakers demanded a $150 million bribe from him. Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, was detained in Nigeria for eight months over alleged corruption and was released following intervention by the U.S. government ¹.
Gambaryan alleged that his arrest led to former U.S. President Joe Biden canceling a meeting with President Bola Tinubu during the 2024 UN General Assembly. He also accused National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu of orchestrating the situation, which allegedly resulted in the U.S. reducing the size of Nigeria’s delegation to the assembly.
However, the Nigerian government has labeled Gambaryan’s claims as “outrageous falsehoods” and urged the public to disregard them. The government emphasized that Gambaryan’s initial visit to Nigeria was discretionary and not sanctioned by any government entity. An investigation was initiated after the alleged bribery incident was brought to the government’s attention ¹.
Interestingly, the government revealed that Binance offered a $5 million payment to secure Gambaryan’s release, but the offer was rejected in favor of a more beneficial settlement with the U.S. government ¹.
The Nigerian government has expressed confidence in the country’s legal system and has advised the public to exercise caution when considering Gambaryan’s allegations. The government’s stance is clear: Gambaryan’s claims are baseless and should be disregarded ¹.
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