By Gwurld4026 
House of Reps Member Agbese Files Suit Against Gambaryan
Nigerian House of Representatives member Philip Agbese has filed a defamation lawsuit against Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, seeking ₦1.5 billion in damages. The lawsuit, filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, stems from allegations made by Gambaryan that Agbese and two other lawmakers solicited a $150 million bribe.
Agbese contends that these accusations are baseless and have severely damaged his reputation. He asserts that he has never engaged in cryptocurrency trading nor possesses a crypto wallet, making the alleged solicitation impossible. Prior to filing the lawsuit, Agbese had issued a seven-day ultimatum to Gambaryan, demanding a public apology and retraction of the statements. However, he proceeded with legal action before the deadline, emphasizing the urgency of protecting his integrity.
The lawsuit seeks a court declaration that Gambaryan’s statements are defamatory, an order restraining him from making further such claims, and a public retraction of the allegations. Additionally, Agbese is demanding ₦1.5 billion in general damages and ₦5 million to cover litigation costs.
This legal action follows previous reports in May 2024, where Binance alleged that unidentified individuals approached the company on behalf of the House Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes, demanding a bribe. At that time, Agbese chose not to engage legally, as his name was not specifically mentioned. The recent explicit allegations by Gambaryan prompted Agbese to initiate the current lawsuit to defend his reputation.