Nigerian Government Responds to Binance Executive’s Claims

Binance Executive Accused of Misinformation in Nigeria

In February 2025, Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, alleged that during his detention in Nigeria, certain lawmakers demanded a $150 million bribe to halt a probe against the cryptocurrency firm. He specifically named Representatives Philip Agbese, Ginger Onwusibe, and Peter Akpanke as those who solicited the bribe. Additionally, Gambaryan accused National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu of seeking substantial payouts from Binance for personal gain.

The Nigerian government swiftly refuted these claims, labeling them as false and defamatory. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that the allegations were baseless and aimed at discrediting Nigerian institutions. The accused lawmakers also denied the bribery claims, with Representative Agbese challenging Gambaryan to provide evidence or issue a public apology within seven days.

This controversy follows Gambaryan’s earlier detention in Nigeria on charges of money laundering and economic destabilization related to Binance’s operations. He was released in late 2024 after eight months in custody, with the Nigerian government citing humanitarian and diplomatic reasons for dropping the case.