Nigeria Rejects Binance Executive’s Claims as “Falsehoods,” Disputes Allegations of Bribery and Currency Manipulation
Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian government has vehemently refuted accusations made by Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and Binance executive recently embroiled in a legal case in Nigeria concerning financial crimes. The government has dismissed Gambaryan’s statements as “outrageous falsehoods,” urging the public to disregard them entirely.
In a statement released on Friday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government expressed concern over a purported misinformation campaign initiated by Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan. The statement, titled “Disregard Falsehoods Being Peddled by Tigran Gambaryan against Nigerian Government Officials – FG,” aimed to set the record straight.
Despite acknowledging high-level diplomatic intervention that led to Gambaryan’s release, the government said it was compelled to respond to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Bribery Allegations and Investigation
Addressing claims of an attempted bribe, the government clarified that Gambaryan’s initial visit to Nigeria was at his discretion and not sanctioned by any government authority. However, when the government became aware of the alleged incident, an investigation was immediately launched.
“The first visit by Mr. Gambaryan and his colleagues to Nigeria was discretionary on their part and government was not officially involved,” the statement read. “However, when the attention of the government was called to an alleged bribery demand during that trip, an investigation was immediately opened into it though there was no formal complaint by anyone.”
The government explained that Gambaryan’s second visit was linked to an ongoing investigation into the potential manipulation of the Nigerian currency through platforms like Binance. Authorities claim their investigation was hampered by what they characterized as obstructive actions by Gambaryan and his team.
Gambaryan’s Release and Currency Concerns
The statement also clarified the circumstances surrounding Gambaryan’s release in October 2024, stating it was a humanitarian gesture resulting from negotiations with the U.S. government.
“Mr. Gambaryan was released by the Nigerian government in October 2024 on humanitarian grounds and following a high-level diplomatic intervention that ended with tangible benefits for Nigeria,” the statement said. “The government rejected Binance’s offer of a $5 million down payment in exchange for Mr. Gambaryan’s freedom, in favour of a more beneficial settlement with the American government.”
The government categorically denied Gambaryan’s recent claims, stating they lacked both credibility and substantiation. The government further suggested that Gambaryan’s motivation was to discredit and intimidate those involved in his legal proceedings.
“We categorically deny the retaliatory claims made by Gambaryan against Nigerian officials involved in his case, and we urge the public to disregard these false accusations in their entirety,” the statement read.
Despite the allegations, the Nigerian government expressed confidence in the legal systems of both Nigeria and the United States, asserting Gambaryan would have the opportunity to present his claims in court. The statement concluded by advising the public to exercise caution and avoid being influenced by Gambaryan’s unproven accusations.
Gambaryan, who spent eight months in Nigerian detention on corruption allegations, has named three Nigerian lawmakers who he claims demanded a $150 million bribe. Additionally, the government refuted Gambaryan’s denial of claims made by the Central Bank of Nigeria concerning the alleged outflow of $26 billion from the country through the crypto exchange platform. Gambaryan and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, were detained by Nigerian authorities.
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