The Nigerian government has dismissed allegations made by Binance's head of financial crime, Tigran Gambaryan, who spent months in detention over alleged money laundering. Released after U.S. government intervention, Gambaryan claims his arrest led Joe Biden to cancel a meeting with President Tinubu at the 2024 UN General Assembly.
He also accused Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of orchestrating his detention and alleged that three lawmakers demanded a $150 million bribe from him. Mr Gambaryan said, “Ribadu emphasized that he wanted billions in payouts to fund his future political ambition."
In response, Nigeria’s Information Minister Mohammed Idris called Gambaryan’s statements misinformation and denied any bribe demand. He revealed that Binance offered $5 million for Gambaryan’s release, but Nigeria rejected it.
“(The) allegations are not only unsubstantiated but also lack credibility, given his apparent motive to discredit and intimidate those who ensured he faced justice.” - Mohammed Irdris
Meanwhile, Gambaryan’s colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, escaped custody in March 2024 as investigations continue.