The Federal Government of Nigeria has urged citizens to disregard the allegations made by Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, who was recently tried in the country for financial crimes.In a statement issued on Friday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described Gambaryan’s claims as “false, unfounded, and defamatory,” emphasizing that they should not be taken seriously.**Government’s Response**“The Federal Government notes with concern the outrageous allegations, misinformation, and defamatory statements being disseminated by Tigran Gambaryan, an American personnel of Binance who was recently tried in Nigeria for financial crimes,” the statement read.Idris clarified that Gambaryan’s initial visit to Nigeria was at his own discretion and that the government was not officially involved. However, upon reports of an alleged bribery attempt during his visit, an investigation was launched despite the absence of a formal complaint. Gambaryan’s second visit, according to the minister, was part of a broader probe into financial crimes involving the manipulation of the Nigerian currency through peer-to-peer trading platforms such as Binance. Investigators reportedly faced resistance from Gambaryan and his team during the inquiry.The statement also disclosed that Gambaryan was released in October 2024 on humanitarian grounds after high-level diplomatic intervention.
The Nigerian government rejected Binance’s offer of a $5 million settlement for his release, instead opting for a more favorable agreement with the U.S. government.“We categorically deny the retaliatory claims made by Mr. Gambaryan against Nigerian officials and urge the public to disregard these false accusations,” the government asserted. “His allegations lack credibility and appear to be an attempt to discredit those who ensured he faced justice.”
Gambaryan, who spent eight months in Nigerian detention over alleged financial misconduct, recently alleged on social media that members of the Nigerian House of Representatives attempted to extort $150 million in cryptocurrency from him. He specifically named lawmakers Philip Agbese, Ginger Onwusibe, and Peter Akpanke as those involved in the alleged demand.He further claimed that the meeting was staged with non-functional cameras to appear official and that the lawmakers pressured him to comply. However, Gambaryan provided no concrete evidence to support his allegations.The government dismissed his claims as an effort to manipulate public perception, reaffirming confidence in both the Nigerian and American judicial systems to assess the credibility of his assertions.“We urge the public to exercise caution and not be swayed by Mr. Gambaryan’s unfounded and malicious claims,” the statement concluded.
