C’ River Lawmaker, 2 Others Fingered in $150 million Binance bribe Scandal

By Missang AKPET 

Tigran Gambaryan, the head of financial crime of crypto firm Binance, who was detained in Nigeria for several months, has named three Nigerian lawmakers who he claimed demanded a $150 million bribe from him.

Gambaryan and another Binance official were detained by the Nigerian government which accused their firm of money laundering and encouraging criminality in Nigeria and was released after the government dropped the charges against them following the intervention of the US government.

The Binance official, during his detention, mentioned that some lawmakers demanded bribes from him to stave off his arrest a

The Binance official on Friday named the lawmakers in a post on X as Peter Akpanke, Cross River (Obudu, Bekwara, Obanliku Fed. Constituency), Philip Agbese, Benue State (Ado,Okpokwu,Ogbadibo Federal Constituency) and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, Abia State (Isiala Ngwa South, Isiala Ngwa North federal constituency).

Coincidentally, Hon Onwusibe heads the House of Representatives Committee on anti-corruption while Hon Agbese is the deputy spokesperson of the House.

Responding to the allegations, Hon Philip Agbese has asked the Binance officials to provide evidence of the allegation or be prepared to face litigations for the accusation while Hon Ginger Onwusibe in an official statement has resolved to seek redress in court in a bid to clear his name.

It could be recalled that the house had earlier denied demanding bribes from the Binance officials.