FG dismisses Gambaryan’s ‘false allegations,’ says Binance offered $5 million payment.
The federal government disputed on Friday the claims of Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s chief of financial crime, who spent eight months in a Nigerian jail facility for alleged wrongdoing.
Gambaryan, a United States citizen, was recently tried in Nigeria for financial offences. Following the US government’s involvement, Nigerian authorities released him.
In a post on X, he claimed that his wrongful imprisonment by the Nigerian government forced former US President Joe Biden to cancel a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the 2024 UN General Assembly (UNGA).
He blamed the situation on National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and said that the US administration cut the number of Nigeria’s delegation to the annual global assembly. The Binance executive also named three Nigerian legislators who reportedly requested a bribe of $150 million from him.
However, the federal authorities advised the public to dismiss the charges completely.
Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, condemned Gambaryan’s assertions as an intentional misinformation campaign.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria notes with concern the outrageous allegations, misinformation, and defamatory statements being disseminated by Tigran Gambaryan, an American member of Binance who was recently tried in Nigeria for financial crimes,” according to a release.
“The government rejected Binance’s offer of a $5 million down payment in exchange for Mr. Gambaryan’s freedom in favour of a more beneficial settlement with the American government.”
Idris claimed that the administration felt forced to clarify the situation in order to avoid incorrect information from spreading.
The minister also addressed Gambaryan’s allegations of bribery, emphasising that his initial visit to Nigeria was wholly voluntary and not sanctioned by any government agency.
He alleges that when the government learnt about the alleged occurrence, it initiated an investigation right away.
Mr. Gambaryan and his colleagues paid their first visit to Nigeria at their own choice, with no official involvement.
“However, when the attention of the government was called to an alleged bribery demand during that trip, an investigation was immediately opened into it, though there was no formal complaint by anyone,” he told me.
The federal government detained Gambaryan and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, a 37-year-old British Kenyan who works as Binance’s regional manager in Africa.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission filed money laundering allegations against both people totalling $35 million.
Anjarwalla escaped from custody on March 22, 2024.