The Binance Executive, Tigran Gambaryan, has opened up on his time in Nigerian custody, revealing a web of bribery demands, international tensions, and political maneuvering at the highest levels of government. He listed the names of a few lawmakers who he accused of demanding bribe from him into their personal accounts.
A Shocking $150 Million Bribe Demand
Gambaryan made a very long social media post on X explaining his ordeal in Nigeria, including shady requests and deals from security operative and Nigerian lawmakers. He accused a few members of the House of Representatives of trying to extort $150 million from him, demanding payment in cryptocurrency to their personal wallets.
“The DSS was involved in the House of Representatives matter. We met with them on January 5, 2024, as a prerequisite to our meeting with the House. They made it clear that we had to comply with whatever the lawmakers instructed us to do.”
At the alleged meeting, Gambaryan identified three lawmakers, including Peter Akpanke and Philip Agbese, acting under the leadership of Ginger Obinna Onwusibe.
“They set up fake cameras and media to make the meeting look official, but the cameras weren’t even plugged in. It was a Mickey Mouse operation at its best.”
National Security Adviser’s Alleged Involvement
Gambaryan also implicated Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, claiming he played a key role in orchestrating high-level negotiations.
“Ribadu invited us to the official meeting through Sa’ad Abubakar. Another key figure was Hamma Adama Belloji. Ogunjobi was just a pawn; they used him too.”
He further alleged that the widely publicized claim of Binance moving $26 billion out of Nigeria was completely fabricated.
“The $26 billion figure they kept pushing is complete BS. This was simply cumulative trade data of Nigerians using the platform, it wasn’t money leaving the country.”
Dubious Detention and International Deception
Gambaryan described his detention as illegal, claiming that Nigerian officials lied to foreign embassies about the circumstances.
“They sent a letter to the U.S. Embassy and British High Commission, falsely claiming we were voluntarily participating in strategic talks. This was a blatant lie.”
He also refuted reports about another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, escaping during mosque prayers.
“They lied about Nadeem’s escape. In reality, he returned and left afterward. I don’t know how he managed to flee, but it’s possible he paid someone off. I have no proof.”
A Political Cover-Up?
Perhaps the most explosive claim was that the Nigerian government sought to use Binance to justify economic mismanagement. Gambaryan alleged that authorities pressured the company to provide private user data on Nigerians, supposedly to track opposition figures accused of “manipulating the naira.”
“They all knew that the naira’s devaluation was a direct result of Tinubu’s monetary policy, which depegged the naira from the dollar. Instead of acknowledging this, they used Binance as a scapegoat.”
Charges Dropped, But Questions Remain
In October 2024, after months of legal battles, the Nigerian government withdrew the money laundering charges against Gambaryan. The case, initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had been part of a broader crackdown on Binance, which the government accused of contributing to the naira’s instability.
The fallout from Gambaryan’s detention continues to raise questions about corruption, governance, and Nigeria’s approach to cryptocurrency regulation. His revelations paint a troubling picture, one that is likely to fuel further scrutiny both at home and abroad.
