Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has dismissed allegations leveled against its officials by Mr. Tigran Gambaryan, an American Binance executive recently tried in Nigeria for financial crimes.
In an official statement, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, described Mr. Gambaryan’s claims as baseless and misleading, asserting that they were designed to discredit those who ensured he was held accountable.
“The accusations made by Mr. Gambaryan are unsubstantiated and lack credibility,” the minister stated. “They are deliberate attempts to intimidate and distort the truth.”
The government expressed concern over what it described as “outrageous misinformation and defamatory statements” being spread by Mr. Gambaryan. It emphasized that, while it had initially refrained from engaging with his allegations, setting the record straight was now necessary to prevent the spread of falsehoods.
Providing context, the statement clarified that Mr. Gambaryan’s first visit to Nigeria was voluntary and without any official government involvement. However, when allegations of bribery surfaced during that visit, authorities promptly launched an investigation, even in the absence of a formal complaint.
His second visit, the government noted, was linked to an extensive probe into the criminal manipulation of the Nigerian currency through peer-to-peer platforms such as Binance. Investigators, however, faced resistance from Mr. Gambaryan and his team, frustrating the process.
The statement further revealed that Mr. Gambaryan was released in October 2024 on humanitarian grounds, following high-level diplomatic negotiations that ultimately secured strategic benefits for Nigeria.
Notably, the government disclosed that it rejected Binance’s offer of a $5 million down payment in exchange for his release, opting instead for a more favorable settlement with the United States government.
The minister urged the public to disregard Mr. Gambaryan’s claims, reiterating the government’s commitment to upholding justice and protecting Nigeria’s financial integrity.
By Taiwo Olatinwo|February 15, 2025.
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