The Nigerian government refutes bribery claims made by Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, dismissing them as unsubstantiated and defamatory. In a statement signed by Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, officials urge the public to disregard Gambaryan’s allegations.
The government categorically denies Gambaryan’s accusations of bribery and manipulation of the naira by crypto exchanges. According to the statement:
“We categorically deny the retaliatory claims made by Mr. Gambaryan against Nigerian officials involved in his case, and we urge the public to disregard these false accusations in their entirety.”
Gambaryan had recently spoken out about his experiences in Nigeria, claiming that legislators demanded bribes from Binance representatives and disputing allegations of naira manipulation by crypto exchanges.
Nigerian government’s response
Gambaryan attributed the devaluation of the naira to the federal government’s monetary policy, stating that his criticism is directed at the policy’s impact. The government detained Gambaryan, who headed Binance’s financial crimes investigation unit, and his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla in February, with Gambaryan facing charges upon Anjarwalla’s escape.
The government maintains that it was not officially involved in Gambaryan’s initial trip to Nigeria and only became aware of the bribery allegations later, prompting an investigation. It acknowledged the second trip as part of a criminal probe into Binance’s alleged manipulation of the Nigerian currency.
Contrary to claims of a $5 million down payment offer by Binance for Gambaryan’s release, the government asserts that a diplomatic agreement with the US facilitated his release on humanitarian grounds. The statement emphasizes that Gambaryan has the opportunity to substantiate his claims in court.
Gambaryan’s rebuttal
In response to the government’s statement, Gambaryan refutes their claims, asserting that the government was involved from the outset. He alleges that his first trip to Nigeria was at the invitation of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), a governmental entity.
Gambaryan contends that his interactions with House members, part of the government, culminated in what was meant to be a friendly meeting leading to his detention. He questions the government’s characterization of the meeting as a probe, highlighting inconsistencies.
He stated:
“You said the second part was part of a probe? Lol. So when you invited us to a friendly meeting, you even lied about that?”
Gambaryan refutes allegations of an investigation or tactical maneuvers on his part, alleging mistreatment, baseless charges, and a near-death experience without evidence or due process.