The Nigerian Government has dismissed the recent claims made by Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime, regarding his eight-month detention in the country over alleged corruption charges.
Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, was recently tried in Nigeria for financial crimes related to money laundering. He was released after intervention from the United States government. However, in a post shared on X, Gambaryan accused the Nigerian government of unlawfully arresting him, claiming that it led to former U.S. President Joe Biden’s cancellation of a planned meeting with President Bola Tinubu during the 2024 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He also alleged that U.S. officials reduced the size of the Nigerian delegation attending the assembly and blamed National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu for the incident. Additionally, Gambaryan identified three Nigerian lawmakers who supposedly demanded a bribe of $150 million from him.
The Nigerian government swiftly rejected these allegations, calling them part of a “deliberate misinformation campaign.” Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, issued a statement on Friday condemning Gambaryan’s claims, labeling them as “outrageous” and defamatory.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria notes with concern the outrageous allegations, misinformation, and defamatory statements being disseminated by Tigran Gambaryan, an American personnel of Binance who was recently tried in Nigeria for financial crimes,” the statement read.
Idris further clarified that the government had rejected Binance’s $5 million down payment offer in exchange for Gambaryan’s freedom, opting instead for a more favorable resolution with the U.S. government.
The minister also addressed Gambaryan’s bribery allegations, explaining that his initial visit to Nigeria was not sanctioned by any Nigerian government entity. He emphasized that the government promptly initiated an investigation into the bribery claims, despite no formal complaint being filed.
“The first visit by Mr. Gambaryan and his colleagues to Nigeria was discretionary on their part, and the government was not officially involved. However, when the attention of the government was called to an alleged bribery demand during that trip, an investigation was immediately opened into it,” Idris explained.
Gambaryan, along with his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British Kenyan and regional manager for Binance in Africa, had been detained on charges of money laundering involving $35 million, as initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). However, Anjarwalla managed to escape custody on March 22, 2024.
The Nigerian Government has urged the public to disregard Gambaryan’s claims, underscoring its commitment to addressing corruption and upholding justice.
