A top executive at Binance, Mr. Tigran Gambaryan, has reaffirmed his claim that three Nigerian lawmakers demanded a $150 million bribe to prevent his arrest and prosecution over money laundering allegations.
Gambaryan, who previously worked as a Special Agent with the United States Department of the Treasury, took to social media platform X on Friday to name the lawmakers involved—Philip Agbese, Ginger Onwusibe, and Peter Akpanke, all members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives. His statement caused widespread controversy, leading to swift denials from the accused officials and the Nigerian government.
Despite their rejection of his claims, Gambaryan doubled down on his position in a follow-up post on Saturday, stating that his allegations were based on personal experiences and direct conversations with individuals aware of the situation.
“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 US law enforcement. So please, allow me to leave this behind and find peace,” he wrote.
Gambaryan noted that the responsibility for investigating the matter further now rests with law enforcement authorities in both Nigeria and the United States. He expressed his frustration over his legal troubles and the toll it has taken on his family.
He shared how his ordeal had caused distress, stating, “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 professional. 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 US Government when I was in need.”
Gambaryan also described the emotional toll of his legal battle, saying he did not want to see his family suffer any longer.
“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,” he wrote.
