How Nigerian lawmakers demanded $150m bribe from me, Binance executive alleges

The executive of crypto firm Binance, Tigran Gambaryan, has revealed how three Nigerian lawmakers allegedly demanded a $150 million bribe from him.

Recall that Gambaryan and another Binance official were detained in a Nigerian prison for months after being accused of money laundering and promoting criminal activities in Nigeria.

In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Gambaryan disclosed that during his detention, some lawmakers demanded bribes from him to avoid arrest and prosecution.

He named the lawmakers as Peter Akpanke, Philip Agbese, and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe. Ironically, Mr. Onwusibe chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, while Mr. Agbese serves as the deputy spokesperson of the House.

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Providing details of the bribe demand, Gambaryan stated that the incident occurred on January 5, 2024, during a meeting involving the Department of State Services (DSS) and House 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.

“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. A Mickey Mouse operation at its best.” Gambaryan wrote.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE