Premium Times Newspaper has taken to it’s official X handle and announced that the Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime, has sensationally named three Nigerian lawmakers who allegedly demanded a staggering $150 million bribe to halt his detention and prosecution.
In a shocking revelation posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Gambaryan identified the lawmakers as Peter Akpanke, Philip Agbese, and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe. The revelation is particularly damning as Onwusibe heads the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, while Agbese serves as the House’s deputy spokesperson.
Gambaryan, who was detained in Nigeria for months alongside another Binance official, accused the lawmakers of attempting to extort the cryptocurrency giant in exchange for their freedom. His detention, orchestrated by the Nigerian government, stemmed from allegations that Binance was involved in money laundering and fueling financial crimes in the country.
He disclosed that the bribe demand took place during a meeting on January 5, 2024, at the Department of State Services (DSS) office, which he described as a prerequisite for a separate meeting with the House of Representatives.
“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.”
During the House meeting, Gambaryan claims the lawmakers set up what he called a “Mickey Mouse operation”—a staged session with fake cameras that were not even plugged in, designed to make the proceedings appear official.
“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 personal wallets.”
While efforts are underway to obtain responses from the accused lawmakers, the House of Representatives has previously denied any involvement in bribery allegations concerning Binance. The gravity of Gambaryan’s accusations, however, puts further scrutiny on the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative process.
The explosive allegations come on the heels of the U.S. government’s intervention, which led to Gambaryan’s release and the eventual dropping of charges against him.
As the scandal unfolds, all eyes are now on Nigerian authorities to see if these allegations will be investigated or dismissed as mere speculation. Will this expose a deeper rot within the nation’s political system, or will it be swept under the rug? The coming days will tell.
PIONEER NEWS 