Released Binance executive peddling falsehoods – FG

The Federal Government has accused the Binance executive, who was detained by Nigerian officials in 2024, Tigran Gambaryan, of making derogatory statements against it.

Gambaryan, who was accused of money laundering and tax evasion, was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for months before he was released in October.

In an interview with WIRED, a U.S.-based media publication, Gambaryan said Nigerian officials demanded $150 million in cryptocurrency from Binance, which he described as a bribery attempt.

According to Gambaryan, this made him cut his first trip to the country short. He later returned with the intention of reporting this bribery attempt.

On his second trip to the country, the EFCC detained him. He added that the anti-graft agency also began making more demands to secure his release.

The Federal Government has, however, denied these claims, describing them as “outrageous allegations, misinformation, and defamatory statements.”

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“While the Federal Government of Nigeria is hesitant to engage Mr. Gambaryan, given the high-level diplomatic intervention that resolved his case, we are obliged to set the records straight to stop his falsehoods from gaining ground,” the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, noted in a press statement.

According to Idris, the Federal Government looked into the alleged bribery demand made during Gambaryan’s first trip despite no formal complaint being made regarding the issue.

“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 government rejected Binance’s offer of a $5 million down payment in exchange for Mr. Gambaryan’s freedom, in favor of a more beneficial settlement with the American government,” said Idris.

The minister added that Gambaryan’s allegations lack credibility and are intended to discredit and intimidate those who ensured he faced justice.

“However, we are confident that both the Nigerian and American judicial systems will provide Mr. Gambaryan with a fair opportunity to substantiate his claims in court.

“Until then, we advise the public to exercise caution and not be swayed by Mr. Gambaryan’s unfounded and malicious claims.”