Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, has accused three Nigerian lawmakers of demanding a $150 million bribe while he was detained in Nigeria on corruption charges.
Gambaryan, who was held for eight months, named Philip Agbese, Ginger Onwusibe, and Peter Akpanke as those who allegedly sought the payment in cryptocurrency during a meeting in January 2024. He claimed the lawmakers staged the meeting with fake cameras to appear official.
“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 $150m bribe, paid in cryptocurrency into their personal wallets. A Micky Mouse operation at its best.”
Agbese has denied the allegations, challenging Gambaryan to provide evidence or face legal action.
” I further demand that failing to provide evidence as stated, Tigran Gambaryan must cause a retraction of his malicious claims and publication and apologise to me within the next seven days or face legal action from my lawyers.”
He also clarified that he was not involved in the committee handling Binance’s case.
Onwusibe declined to comment, citing an ongoing court case, while Akpanke has yet to respond.
“I’m already in court with them on this same issue. I don’t need to respond again as I briefed the press on this last year when it happened.”
Meanwhile, Gambaryan also dismissed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s claim that Binance facilitated a $26 billion outflow from Nigeria, calling it misleading. He asserted that the figure represented trading volume rather than funds leaving the country.
The Binance executive further criticised Nigerian authorities for blaming Binance for broader economic problems, including the devaluation of 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. I’m not saying this policy decision was wrong, but everyone understood that removing government intervention would lead to extreme devaluation. Instead of acknowledging this, they used Binance as a scapegoat,” Gambaryan stated.
Binance exited the Nigerian market in March 2024 following regulatory scrutiny, while Gambaryan was released after U.S. government intervention.
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