- House of Reps committed to protecting democratic institutions – Spokesman
- Onwusibe: Allegations desperate attempt to deflect from Binance’s legal woes
- Murray-Bruce challenges Gambaryan to undergo lie detector test
The head of financial crime for the crypto firm Binance, Tigran Gambaryan, insisted yesterday that the $150 million bribery allegation he leveled against some members of the House of Representatives was true.
The House of Representatives also said yesterday that it remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the protection of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Also yesterday, Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes and one of the three members of the Green Chamber accused by Gambaryan of demanding bribe, strongly denied the allegation.
Gambaryan had alleged that some members of the House of Representatives demanded a bribe of $150 million from him during a meeting in Abuja to halt his probe.
Although his claims were dismissed by the lawmakers and the federal government, he reaffirmed that all that he said was nothing but the truth as to what transpired in Nigeria.
The controversy between Binance and Nigerian authorities dates back to early 2024 when the government accused the cryptocurrency platform of manipulating foreign exchange rates.
The government subsequently detained Gambaryan and another Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, when they arrived in Nigeria for discussions in February 2024.
While Anjarwalla later escaped, Gambaryan remained in custody.
Reacting on his verified “X” page, he said: “Many requested that I stay on and provide further commentary on the issues I posted about yesterday. Here’s the hard truth: what I shared was meant to fill in the gaps left by Wired and NPR’s reporting.
“The reality is that last year was incredibly painful for me and my family. I dedicated my life to fighting crime as a Special Agent with the United States Department of the Treasury and as a compliance profession.
“It was an honour to serve my country, and it was a blessing that they came to my rescue and mobilised the full force of the U.S. government when I was in need.
“Being dragged through court on outrageous, baseless and trumped-up charges didn’t just hurt me—it also brought immense pain to my family.
“I don’t want to see my kids cry because I’m not around. I don’t want to see videos of my 75-year-old mother on television in tears. I don’t want to see my wife crying on TV. I want to put this nightmare behind me and move on.
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“What I shared was factual, based on my personal experiences and conversations with those who have direct knowledge of the events I discussed. Information that was shared with both Nigerian and U.S law enforcement. So please, allow me to leave this behind and find peace.
“I am no longer in law enforcement. The responsibility of seeing this through to a logical conclusion now falls on those still serving in United States and Nigeria.”
‘House of Reps committed to protecting Nigeria’s democratic institutions’
The House of Representatives said yesterday that it remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the protection of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
In a statement signed by its Spokesman, Akintunde Rotimi (APC, Ekiti), the House asked Nigerians to rely on verified facts so as not to be misled by recycled claims aimed at discrediting Nigerian institutions and public officials.
The House Committee on Financial Crimes was investigating a petition by a civil society group against Binance when the government cracked down on the outfit.
The statement reads: “The House of Representatives has taken note of recent media reports concerning bribery allegations made by a Binance official. Given the gravity of these claims, it is necessary to state the institutional position of the House.
“As an independent arm of government, the House upholds due process, the rule of law and constitutional oversight. These allegations, which have been previously circulated last year, are directed at individual members, not the institution itself.
“The honourable members named have assured the House Leadership that they never had any such dealings as reported. One of the members has already instituted legal action to clear his name while others affected have been encouraged to do the same in pursuit of justice and the protection of their reputations.
“It is also important to highlight that with the active involvement of both the Nigerian and United States governments, this matter has evolved into a government-to-government engagement.
“Notably, in the course of high-level diplomatic discussions, the Federal Government of Nigeria has prioritised national interest over external commercial pressure, including rejecting financial settlement offers from Binance.
“These facts raise serious questions about the credibility and intent of the allegations being peddled.
“As the matter is now before a court of competent jurisdiction and remains the subject of ongoing diplomatic engagements, the House will refrain from further comment in line with established parliamentary, judicial and diplomatic principles.
“The House of Representatives urges the public to rely on verified facts and not be misled by recycled claims aimed at discrediting Nigerian institutions and public officials.
“The House remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, accountability and the protection of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.”
Reps Financial Crimes Committee chair denies bribery allegations
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, has strongly denied allegations of bribery levelled against him by Tigran Gambaryan, a senior executive of Binance.
The lawmaker, who has been at the centre of an investigation into Binance’s operations in Nigeria, described the claims as false, malicious and defamatory.
Reacting to Gambaryan’s claims, Onwusibe said he initially chose not to respond as the matter is already before the court. However, given the widespread public reactions and what he described as the “unfair demonization” of his person, his political party and even his ethnic group, he felt compelled to address the allegations.
Providing a detailed account of events, Onwusibe said that his committee began investigating Binance after receiving a petition from the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative, a civil society organization.
The petition alleged that Binance had engaged in financial and economic crimes that posed a threat to the Nigerian economy. In response, the committee invited Binance’s CEO, Richard Teng, to appear before a public hearing scheduled for January 10, 2024.
However, before that date, Binance requested a pre-hearing meeting to better understand the allegations against them. Onwusibe explained that the committee agreed to the request and scheduled the meeting for January 8, 2024, at the National Assembly complex.
He was unable to attend due to other official engagements, so he delegated three committee members and a clerk to meet with Binance’s six-member team, which included legal counsel. According to Onwusibe, the meeting was professional, transparent, and ended on a cordial note, with no demands for bribes.
Despite agreeing to attend the public hearing, Binance’s CEO, Richard Teng, failed to appear on multiple occasions. Instead, the company sent legal representatives, a move the committee rejected. The hearing was postponed several times to accommodate Binance’s requests, but neither Teng nor any other senior Binance executive ever attended.
This, Onwusibe said, raised serious concerns about Binance’s willingness to cooperate with Nigerian authorities.
Onwusibe said as the controversy grew, he was surprised to discover through a May 7, 2024, blog post by Richard Teng that Binance executives were also under investigation by Nigeria’s security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Teng’s post, titled “Tigran Gambaryan is Innocent and Must Be Released”, contained what Onwusibe described as defamatory claims against him. In response, he instructed his lawyer, Nnamdi U. Nwokocha Ahaaiwe, to demand an apology and damages. Binance, however, refused to retract the statements or offer any compensation.
On September 18, 2024, Onwusibe filed a lawsuit against Binance and Teng at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, seeking an apology, a retraction, and $3 billion in damages. The case, which first came up for hearing on January 22, 2025, is set to continue on February 19.
The lawmaker dismissed the latest allegations by Gambaryan, calling them a desperate attempt by Binance to deflect attention from its own legal troubles. He emphasised that neither he nor his committee coordinated with Nigerian security agencies in their investigation of Binance.
He also denied allegations that the DSS, ONSA, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), or the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) were involved in the legislative probe.
Beyond refuting the claims, Onwusibe painted Binance as a company with a troubling history of legal infractions in multiple countries. He cited the conviction of Binance’s founder and former CEO, Changpeng Zhao, who was sentenced to four months in prison in the United States for financial crimes, including money laundering. He also pointed to the company’s record fines in the U.S., Canada, India, and Uzbekistan for violating anti-money laundering and financial regulations.
For Onwusibe, the backlash from the Nigerian public has been particularly painful. He lamented that many Nigerians were quick to believe Binance’s version of events without critically examining the facts.
He said the accusations had not only damaged his reputation but had also been used to mock his political party, the Labour Party, and even his Igbo ethnic group.
Despite the attacks, Onwusibe remains determined to clear his name. He vowed to pursue his lawsuit to its logical conclusion and to continue defending the integrity of the Nigerian legislature.
He accused Binance and its executives of attempting to use media blackmail to escape accountability, stating that the company’s actions—including the alleged escape of one of its executives from Nigerian custody—proved that it was acting in bad faith.
As the legal battle continues, Onwusibe insists that his only interest is ensuring that Binance is held accountable for any financial misconduct. He maintains that the committee’s investigation was conducted fairly and in line with its legislative duties. The case, which now has both legal and diplomatic implications, is expected to draw even more attention in the coming weeks.
Onwusibee said that Binance should go and face their case in court and stop blackmailing an innocent person.
$150m bribe: Murray-Bruce challenges Gambaryan to undergo lie detector test
The founder of the Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce, yesterday challenged Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, Tigran Gambaryan to undergo a lie detector test over his $150 million bribery allegation.
The minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris had dismissed Gambaryan’s allegations as “outrageous” and “defamatory”.
Reacting, the former Senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District swore on his life that swear on his life that Gambaryan was lying, demanding that he should submit to a lie detector test in a neutral country, excluding the United States and Nigeria.
Murray-Bruce on his verified x page said: “I have known Mallam Nuhu Ribadu my entire life, and I can say with absolute certainty that he is incapable of the allegations being levelled against him.
“I challenge @TigranGambaryan to undergo a lie detector test if he genuinely believes the claims he has made.
“It is exhausting to witness individuals repeatedly dragging Nigeria’s name through the mud with baseless accusations and fabricated evidence.
“@TigranGambaryan should consider himself fortunate to have been allowed to leave because if Nuhu had his way, I am supremely confident he would have ensured that he remained behind bars for 100 years.
“I swear on my life—Girma is lying, and I demand that @TigranGambaryan submit to a lie detector test in a neutral country, excluding both the United States and Nigeria.
“Furthermore, I hope @TigranGambaryan begins drafting the public apology he will inevitably have to issue once he fails that test.
“Individuals like him must be decisively dealt with, ensuring that such reckless fabrications are not only exposed but also serve as a warning to other deceitful actors who seek to undermine Nigeria.”
