A recent claim by Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, accusing three Nigerian lawmakers of demanding a $150 million bribe, has been found to lack credible evidence. Gambaryan alleged that the lawmakers Ginger Onwusibe, Philip Agbese, and Peter Akpanke sought the bribe to be paid into their personal cryptocurrency wallets during his trip to Nigeria to resolve a dispute between Binance and Nigerian authorities.
The accusation, made on Friday, February 14, added a new layer to an ongoing saga involving Binance executives, Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, who had traveled to Nigeria earlier in 2024 to address regulatory issues. During this period, Gambaryan claimed to have been approached by unidentified individuals who demanded money in exchange for settling the dispute.
In a twist, Gambaryan later alleged that the Nigerian lawmakers themselves were directly involved in the bribe demand. However, checks by journalists and investigators reveal serious inconsistencies in the Binance executive’s account.
Lawmaker Philip Agbese, in a statement, denied the accusation, noting that he does not even own a cryptocurrency account, let alone accept bribes in such a manner. Furthermore, Gambaryan has failed to provide any evidence to substantiate his claims, including the crypto wallet details he initially alleged were linked to the lawmakers.
Despite the serious nature of the accusations, no concrete proof has emerged to support the claim that the lawmakers demanded the $150 million bribe or that they possess cryptocurrency wallets capable of receiving such a large sum. The Binance executive’s inconsistent statements and the lack of verifiable evidence have cast significant doubt on the credibility of the allegations.
As of now, the claim that Nigerian lawmakers demanded a $150 million bribe from a Binance executive remains unsubstantiated, and the story has been debunked as false.
