Background: Gambaryan’s Legal Battle in Nigeria

Gambaryan, an American executive at Binance, was arrested in Nigeria on February 26, 2024, alongside his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla. While Anjarwalla later escaped custody, Gambaryan remained detained and faced money laundering charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The crackdown followed revelations by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Olayemi Cardoso, who disclosed that $26 billion had been funneled through Binance without proper oversight. However, after months of legal proceedings, Nigeria dropped the charges against both Gambaryan and Binance. In October 2024, a court ordered his release.

Bribery Allegations Against Nigerian Officials

Recently, Gambaryan made explosive claims against Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, alleging that he sought bribes to fund his political ambitions. Additionally, he accused House of Representatives member Philip Agbese and two other lawmakers of demanding a $150 million bribe to be paid in cryptocurrency.

Agbese swiftly denied the claims and challenged Gambaryan to present concrete evidence. He also threatened legal action if Gambaryan failed to substantiate his allegations or issue a public apology within seven days.

Nigeria’s Official Response: Setting the Record Straight

In response, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, issued a strong rebuttal, emphasizing that the government would not allow falsehoods to spread unchecked.

Key points from the statement include:

• Voluntary Visit: Gambaryan’s first visit to Nigeria was not government-mandated. However, when reports of a bribery attempt surfaced, an investigation was launched, despite no formal complaint being filed.
• Legal Scrutiny on Binance: Gambaryan’s second visit was part of an ongoing probe into the alleged manipulation of Nigeria’s currency via peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms like Binance. Authorities claimed his team used tactics to frustrate the investigation.
• Rejection of Binance’s Offer: The government turned down Binance’s alleged $5 million offer to secure Gambaryan’s release, opting instead for a broader settlement with the U.S. government.

"Unfounded and Malicious Claims" – Nigerian Government

Nigeria categorically denied Gambaryan’s accusations, calling them baseless and intended to discredit officials who ensured justice was served.

“We urge the public to disregard these false allegations. Mr. Gambaryan’s claims are not only unsubstantiated but appear to be a deliberate attempt to manipulate the narrative,” the statement read.

The Nigerian government remains confident that both Nigerian and American judicial systems will fairly evaluate the claims. Until then, officials advise the public to remain cautious and not be misled by what they describe as Gambaryan’s "malicious fabrications."