Prove we demanded $150m bribe, Rep members challenge Binance executive

Tigran Gambaryan

Prove we demanded $150m bribe, Rep members challenge Binance executive

Nigerians were alarmed on Friday when Head of Financial Crime of cryptocurrency firm, Binance, Tigran Gambaryan, unveiled the Nigerian lawmakers who allegedly demanded a $150 million bribe from him.
In a statement on X on Friday, Gambaryan named the lawmakers as the deputy spokesperson for the House of Assembly, Philip Agbese; the Head of the House of Representatives Committee on anti-corruption, Ginger Obinna Onwusibe; and the member representing the Obanliku/Obudu /Bekwara, Peter Akpanke.

Gambaryan was freed in October 2024
after eight-month detention on money laundering among other charges against his firm.
Reacting to the development, however, Agbese called on the Binance boss to support his claims with evidence or face the consequences of his actions.

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Gambaryan 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.”

Reacting, however, Agbese, strongly denied allegations of bribery levelled against him by Gambaryan, demanding that he should provide evidence or retract his claims within seven days or face legal action.
“These allegations are false,” Agbese said in a statement.
“I was not part of any meeting with any Binance executive regarding money for any purpose. The leadership of the Committee took the matter to court, and Binance has already apologised.”