Tigran Gambaryan, head of financial crime at crypto firm Binance has accused three Nigerian lawmakers of demanding a $150 million bribe to prevent his arrest and prosecution.
Gambaryan, who was detained for months in Nigeria before his release, named the lawmakers as Peter Akpanke, Philip Agbese, and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe in a post on X.
He stated that the demand was made during a meeting facilitated by the Department of State Services at the House of Representatives.
Detailing the encounter, Gambaryan described the meeting as a staged event, alleging that the lawmakers set up fake cameras and an unplugged media setup to create an illusion of formality.
He recounted that the officials insisted Binance comply with their instructions, which ultimately led to a demand for $150 million in cryptocurrency to be deposited into their personal wallets.
Gambaryan was arrested alongside another Binance executive as Nigerian authorities accused the company of money laundering and facilitating criminal activities.
His release came after diplomatic intervention from the United States government, leading to the charges being dropped.
While in detention, he stated that some lawmakers had sought bribes to prevent legal action against him, describing the experience as a “Mickey Mouse operation.”
The allegations have sparked widespread reactions, raising concerns over corruption and due process in Nigeria’s handling of financial crime investigations.
At press time there was no reaction from those accused or the House of Representatives.
Crediblenewsng.com
