Tigran Gambaryan, Head of Financial Crime at cryptocurrency firm Binance,has allegrd three Nigerian lawmakers of demanding a $150 million bribe from him.
He revealed while speaking about his ordeal.
Gambaryan and another Binance executive were arrested and detained by the Nigerian government, which accused the company of facilitating money laundering in the country.
He was later released following the intervention of the United States Government, which led to the charges against him being dropped.
During his detention, Gambaryan alleged that certain lawmakers in the House of Representatives had demanded bribes from him in exchange for protection from security agencies.
Taking to his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, Gambaryan accused three members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, and Hon. Peter Akpanke, of demanding a hefty sum from him.
Onwusibe, who represents Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South Federal Constituency in Abia State, currently serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, expressed dismay over allegations made by Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of the embattled cryptocurrency firm Binance.
He added: “I am outraged by the false claims suggesting that I was among those who demanded a $150 million bribe from him.”
He denied any involvement in the act, clarifying, “These allegations are entirely baseless. I was never part of any meeting with Binance executives regarding money for any purpose. The leadership of the Committee has already taken the matter to court, and Binance has since issued an apology.”
Tigran Gambaryan further alleged that the lawmakers staged the meeting with non-functional cameras to make it appear official.
According to him, the session culminated in a demand for a $150 million bribe, to be paid in cryptocurrency into their personal wallets. “A Mickey Mouse operation at its best,” he added.
Hon. Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, challenged the Binance CEO to substantiate his claims with evidence or face the consequences.
Agbese added:”For the record, I am not a member of the House Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes. My presence at the meeting in question was purely coincidental. I visited my colleague, Hon. Peter Akpanke, in his office, where he was hosting some visitors regarding matters related to his committee. Also present was Hon. Peter Anakwe, a member of the Committee.
“During my visit, we exchanged pleasantries, and as someone deeply committed to learning, I engaged in a general discussion about Binance’s operations. At no point was any demand made by anyone.”
He reiterated his stance on accountability and transparency, urging the Binance CEO to provide concrete evidence to back his claims.
“It was during my visit to Hon. Akpanke’s office, with Hon. Anekwe also present, that he mentioned they were engaging with the Binance team from abroad regarding a referral to their Committee. What transpired between them and the Binance executive after I left remains unknown to me.
“I never encountered those visitors again following that chance meeting, nor did I participate in any subsequent meetings involving Binance executives, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or the Department of State Services.”
“I am aware that when this issue first surfaced, the Chairman of the Committee took legal action, and Binance subsequently apologized. Therefore, any further inquiries should be directed to the Committee, not to Hon. Philip Agbese,” he stated.
He also emphasized his unfamiliarity with cryptocurrency, saying, “I have never used any cryptocurrency, nor do I own a crypto wallet anywhere in the world. It would be impossible for me to request funds to be credited to a wallet that does not exist.”
On the allegations, he added, “Gambaryan and his associate, who escaped from prison, should return to the EFCC and defend themselves. Instead of attempting to implicate me, they should focus on addressing the accusations leveled against them.”
He challenged Tigran Gambaryan to present concrete evidence linking him to the allegations raised in his report. He dismissed the claims as baseless, particularly those suggesting that the government sought information on opposition figures.
“As a consequence of the foregoing, I demand that Tigran Gambaryan publish any evidence that links me to this issue. His report is riddled with falsehoods, including the outrageous claim that the government requested information on opposition elements. If he fails to provide evidence, he must retract his malicious claims and issue a public apology within seven days. Otherwise, my lawyers will take legal action,” Agbese stated.
He further alleged that he has long been a target of foreign interests attempting to undermine his credibility.
“This is not the first time a foreign entity has leveled allegations against me. In the past, I was accused of working for the previous administration and the Armed Forces to promote Nigeria’s agenda. These claims only highlight the desperation of those seeking to discredit public officeholders they perceive as nationalistic,” he added.
Hon. Ginger Onwusibe declined to comment, stating, “I’m already in court over this issue. I addressed the press last year when it happened, and I see no need to respond further.”
Hon. Peter Akpanke couldn’t be reached for his reaction to the allegation.
