Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime, has alleged that three Nigerian lawmakers demanded a $150 million bribe from him while he was in detention.
Gambaryan, who was held in Nigeria for months over allegations of money laundering and aiding criminal activities, was released after the charges were dropped following U.S. government intervention.
During his time in custody, the Binance executive claimed that some legislators requested the bribe to prevent his prosecution. On Friday, he publicly identified them in a post on X (formerly Twitter) as Peter Akpanke, Philip Agbese, and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe.
Notably, Onwusibe serves as the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, while Agbese holds the position of deputy spokesperson in the House.
Attempts to obtain comments from the accused lawmakers are ongoing. However, the House of Representatives has previously refuted allegations that any of its members sought bribes from Binance officials.
Gambaryan’s post included specific details about the alleged demand, including the date and circumstances.
“The DSS was involved in the House of Representatives matter. We met with them at their office on Friday, January 5, 2024, as a prerequisite to our meeting with the House of Representatives. They alluded to the fact that we had to comply with whatever the House members instructed us to do.
“At the House meeting, there were three members present. Two of them were Peter Akpanke and Philip Agbese, both working under the leadership of Ginger Obinna Onwusibe.”
His tweet reads in part: “At the House meeting, there were three members present. Two of them were Peter Akpanke and Philip Agbese, both working under the leadership of Ginger Obinna Onwusibe. There was a third House member, but I don’t recall his name
“They set up fake cameras and media to make the meeting appear official, but the cameras weren’t even plugged in. As you may already know, this ended with them asking for a $150 million bribe, paid in cryptocurrency into their wallets. A Mickey Mouse operation at its best.”
However, Gambaryan did not present any documentary evidence to support his claims against the lawmakers and the veracity of the allegations was yet to be verified.
