Binance executive alleges $150M bribe demand by lawmakers, reps deny accusation
Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, who spent eight months in detention in Nigeria over alleged corruption, has accused three Nigerian lawmakers of demanding a $150 million bribe from him.
Gambaryan and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, a 37-year-old British-Kenyan serving as Binance’s regional manager for Africa, were detained by Nigerian authorities and charged with laundering $35 million, as filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Anjarwalla later escaped custody on March 22, 2024, while Gambaryan was eventually released following intervention from the United States government.
While in detention, Gambaryan alleged that certain House of Representatives members solicited bribes from him. In a post on his verified X account, he named Philip Agbese, Ginger Onwusibe, and Peter Akpanke as those who allegedly made the demand.
Gambaryan detailed the alleged incident, claiming that on January 5, 2024, he met with the Department of State Services (DSS) as a prerequisite for meeting with the lawmakers. He alleged that the DSS suggested Binance had to comply with whatever instructions the House members gave.
“At the House meeting, three members were present—Peter Akpanke, Philip Agbese, and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe,” Gambaryan wrote. “They staged fake cameras and media to make the meeting appear official, but the cameras weren’t even plugged in. The meeting ended with them demanding a $150 million bribe, to be paid in cryptocurrency to their personal wallets. A Mickey Mouse operation at its best.”
In response, Agbese, who serves as the Deputy Spokesman of the House, denied the allegations and demanded that Gambaryan provide evidence or face legal consequences.
Speaking to PUNCH Online, Agbese dismissed the claims as false, stating, “I was not part of any meeting with any Binance executive regarding money for any purpose. The leadership of the committee took the matter to court, and Binance has already apologized.”
He further clarified that he is not a member of the House Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes and that his only interaction with the Binance representatives was a brief exchange while visiting a colleague’s office.
Agbese also distanced himself from cryptocurrency transactions, stating, “I have never used cryptocurrency and do not own a crypto wallet anywhere in the world. I could not have asked for funds to be sent to a non-existent wallet.”
The lawmaker challenged Gambaryan to provide concrete proof of his allegations, warning that failure to do so would result in legal action.
Meanwhile, Onwusibe, who represents Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South Federal Constituency in Abia State and chairs the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, declined to comment, stating that the matter was already in court.
Efforts to reach Akpanke for a response were unsuccessful.
