By Binance Executive Expose three Nigerian Lawmakers Over $150 Million Bribe After his Arrest
Tigran Gambaryan, the head of financial crime at the crypto firm Binance, has accused three Nigerian lawmakers at the House of Representatives of demanding a $150 million bribe during his detention in Nigeria, in connection with the investigation into Binance’s alleged involvement in money laundering.
In January 2024, Gambaryan and another Binance official were arrested by Nigerian authorities, who accused the firm of facilitating criminal activities in the country.
However, following diplomatic intervention by the US government, the charges were dropped, and Gambaryan was released.
During his detention, Gambaryan claimed that some lawmakers who are three in numbers had demanded the large sum of money to prevent further legal actions against him and the company.
On Friday, he publicly identified three lawmakers as the individuals involved in the alleged bribery scheme: Peter Akpanke, Philip Agbese, and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe.
Notably, Onwusibe serves as the head of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, while Agbese holds the position of deputy spokesperson for the House.
Gambaryan’s accusations have sparked controversy, and efforts are underway to contact the accused individuals for comment.
However, the House has previously denied any involvement in such a scheme.
In his post on X (formerly Twitter), he said, “The DSS was involved in the House of Representatives matter. We met with them at their office on Friday, January 5, 2024, as a prerequisite to our meeting with the House of Representatives. They alluded to the fact that we had to comply with whatever the House members instructed us to do.
“At the House meeting, there were three members present. Two of them were Peter Akpanke and Philip Agbese, both working under the leadership of Ginger Obinna Onwusibe. There was a third House member, but I don’t recall his name. They set up fake cameras and media to make the meeting appear official, but the cameras weren’t even plugged in. As you may already know, this ended with them asking for a $150 million bribe, paid in cryptocurrency into their personal wallets. A Mickey Mouse operation at its best”.
