By Emmanuel Nduka
Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime, has caused a stir in Nigeria’s political circles after standing by his $150 million bribery allegation against three Nigerian lawmakers.
The accused lawmakers—Ginger Onwusibe, Philip Agbese, and Peter Akpanke—were reportedly involved in a meeting with Gambaryan, where he claimed that they demanded the hefty sum to halt an investigation into Binance’s activities.
Gambaryan repeated his claims in a second statement on Saturday, reaffirming that his earlier allegations were true.
In a post on his verified X account, he explained, “Many requested that I stay on and provide further commentary on the issues I posted about yesterday. Here’s the hard truth: What I shared was meant to fill in the gaps left by Wired and NPR’s reporting.”
He emphasized that his statements were based on his “personal experiences and conversations” with individuals who had direct knowledge of the events, which were also shared with law enforcement in both Nigeria and the U.S.
He added, “The reality is that 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 as a compliance professional. It was an honour to serve my country and it was a blessing that they came to my rescue and mobilised the full force of the US government when I was in need. Being dragged through court on outrageous, baseless, and trumped-up charges didn’t just hurt me—it also brought immense pain to my family.”
A visibly emotional Gambaryan continued, stating that he no longer wished to see his family suffer. “I don’t want to see my kids cry or watch my 75-year-old mother on TV in tears. I don’t want to see my wife crying on TV. I want to put this nightmare behind me and move on.”
Asserting that he is no longer in law enforcement, Gambaryan concluded that the responsibility of resolving the matter now lies with those still serving in the U.S. and Nigerian governments.
From Crypto Crimefighter to Prisoner: The Shocking Fall of Gambaryan in Nigeria
Almost a year ago, on March 23, 2024, Gambaryan found himself in a Nigerian detention facility, facing charges of tax evasion linked to Binance’s operations in the country, alongside his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla.
Heritage Times HT reports that while Gambaryan continued to fight the case, Anjarwalla took advantage of a prayer break to escape, leaving Gambaryan facing escalating troubles.
The tension between Binance and Nigeria had been rising, especially over the company’s involvement in the country’s currency crisis.
Gambaryan’s initial mission to assist Binance with its legal issues soon turned into a nightmare. The former crypto crimefighter found himself facing charges of money laundering, and his future in Nigeria became uncertain.
Later in October that year, after months of requesting medical attention, Gambaryan was granted freedom by the Nigerian government. A Nigerian court ordered his release after the government dropped the money laundering charges against him.
Nigerian Government Drags On With Denial
The Nigerian Parliament responded to Gambaryan’s claims for a second time, urging the public to rely only on verified information regarding the bribery allegation.
Agbese and Onwusibe, in separate statements, vowed to clear their names through legal action.
In an official statement issued by Akin Rotimi, spokesman of the Green Chambers, he advised the public not to be swayed by what it called “recycled claims” targeting Nigerian institutions.
The statement emphasized that the House remains committed to transparency and accountability, noting that the affected lawmakers had assured leadership they were not involved in any such dealings. One member had already taken legal action, with others encouraged to do the same.
The statement also highlighted that both Nigerian and U.S. governments had engaged in high-level diplomatic discussions, with Nigeria rejecting financial settlement offers from Binance.
