Tigran Gambaryan, a senior official at Binance, reaffirmed his position on Saturday regarding the bribery allegations against certain Nigerian government officials and members of the House of Representatives.
He maintained that Nigerian officials had demanded bribes from him, despite the federal government’s denial.
Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, was detained in Nigeria from February to October 2024.
The federal government stated that his arrest was part of a wider investigation into alleged money laundering and economic destabilization linked to Binance’s operations in Nigeria.
Recounting his initial experience on the issue on Twitter, Gambaryan alleged that some Nigerian lawmakers demanded substantial bribes in cryptocurrency.
He specifically accused three lawmakers of soliciting a $150 million bribe from him.
He identified Philip Agbese, Ginger Onwusibe, and Peter Akpanke as the three federal lawmakers who allegedly demanded a large bribe from him to prevent his arrest and prosecution.
Gambaryan also accused Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, of seeking substantial payments from Binance to support his political ambitions.
In response, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed Gambaryan’s allegations as “outrageous” and “defamatory.”
Idris claimed that the Nigerian government had rejected a $5 million offer from Binance, which was intended to secure Gambaryan’s release, choosing instead to negotiate a more favorable settlement with the U.S. government.
He argued that Gambaryan’s accusations lack credibility and seem to be an attempt to tarnish the reputation of Nigerian officials.
In his latest post on X on Saturday, Gambaryan alleged that the federal government had used him as leverage to negotiate a beneficial settlement with the U.S. government.
According to him, “I was invited by the Nigerian FIU to a meeting in January. Last time I checked, they are part of the Nigerian government. House members also invited us to the meeting. Last time I checked, the legislative branch is also part of the Nigerian government.
“You said the second part was part of a probe? Lol. So when you invited us to a friendly meeting, you even lied about that. I was in a safe house for a month, watching TV, while you were trying to use me as leverage. You then panicked and knowingly charged me with blatantly false accusations.
“So I was released on humanitarian grounds? At least you’re finally admitting the need to release me. Last time you posted, you claimed my health was fine and that there was nothing wrong with me”.
The crypto expert continued: “You investigated? Yet you didn’t take a statement from me? A person with direct knowledge. What a joke.
“You dragged my name through the mud for the past year with zero evidence against me, nearly killed me, and caused trauma to my family. And now you have the nerve to talk about defamation?
“I’ll put my credibility on the line anytime. In court? You mean like last time, when your attorneys didn’t even show up to the human rights suit in Abuja?
“Get your facts straight. I am done with this foolishness. I said my part. I’ll be off Twitter now since it’s pointless to argue with evil.”
While insisting that his claim was factual despite the denials, Gambaryan explained further:
“What I shared was factual, based on my personal experiences and conversations with those who have direct knowledge of the events I discussed; information that was shared with both Nigerian and US law enforcement.
“So please, allow me to leave this behind and find peace”.
READ ALSO: Binance $150m Bribe Claim Not Directed at House of Reps But Some Members — Spokesman
He said it was the responsibility of law enforcement agents in both Nigeria and the US to see the investigation into the matter through.
He stated that he is no longer in law enforcement, emphasizing that it is now the responsibility of those still serving in the United States and Nigeria to see the matter through to a logical conclusion.
“Many have asked me to stay on and provide further commentary on the issues I raised yesterday (Friday). Here’s the hard truth: what I shared was meant to fill the gaps left by Wired and NPR’s reporting,” he explained.
Reflecting on his experience, he said, “Last year was incredibly painful for me and my family. I dedicated my life to fighting crime as a Special Agent with the United States Department of the Treasury and later as a compliance professional. It was an honor to serve my country, and I was fortunate that they came to my rescue, mobilizing the full force of the U.S. government when I needed it most.”
He further expressed the emotional toll of his ordeal, stating that being dragged through court on “outrageous, baseless, and trumped-up charges” not only affected him but also caused immense pain to his family.
“I don’t want to see my children cry because I’m not around. I don’t want to watch videos of my 75-year-old mother in tears on television. I don’t want to see my wife crying on TV. I want to put this nightmare behind me and move on,” he concluded.
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