The Federal Government has dismissed allegations made by Binance’s Head of Financial Crime, Tigran Gambaryan, who claimed that three Nigerian lawmakers demanded a $150 million bribe from him.
Gambaryan, a United States citizen, was detained in Nigeria for eight months over financial crime allegations before being released following U.S. government intervention.
In a statement on Friday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described Gambaryan’s claims as false and misleading.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria notes with concern the outrageous allegations, misinformation, and defamatory statements being spread by Tigran Gambaryan,” Idris said.
He also revealed that Binance had offered Nigeria a $5 million settlement for Gambaryan’s release, but the government rejected it in favor of a more beneficial agreement with the U.S.
Gambaryan alleged that his detention led to former U.S. President Joe Biden canceling a planned meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the 2024 UN General Assembly. He also blamed National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu for his ordeal.
The minister clarified that Gambaryan’s visit to Nigeria was not at the government’s request.
“The first visit by Mr. Gambaryan and his colleagues to Nigeria was at their discretion, and the government was not officially involved,” Idris stated.
However, he said that once the bribery claim was reported, the government launched an investigation, even though there was no formal complaint from anyone.
Gambaryan and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, were charged with money laundering involving $35 million by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Anjarwalla escaped from custody on March 22, 2024, while Gambaryan remained in detention until his recent release.
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that it remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability in financial transactions.
