By Ehis Agbon, Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed recent allegations made by Tigran Gambaryan, an American employee of Binance, describing his claims as false, defamatory, and misleading.
In a press statement issued on Friday, February 14, 2025, by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government condemned Gambaryan’s statements, which they claim are intended to discredit Nigerian officials.
The government clarified that Gambaryan, who was recently tried in Nigeria for financial crimes, was released in October 2024 on humanitarian grounds after high-level diplomatic intervention. Idris revealed that despite Binance’s offer of a $5 million down payment for Gambaryan’s release, the Nigerian government opted for a more favorable settlement with the U.S. government.
“The first visit of Mr. Gambaryan and his colleagues to Nigeria was at their own discretion, without any official government involvement. However, when the government became aware of an alleged bribery claim from that trip, an immediate investigation was launched, despite the absence of a formal complaint,” the statement read.
Idris further explained that Gambaryan’s second visit was part of an investigation into the manipulation of the Nigerian currency through peer-to-peer platforms such as Binance. However, he claimed that the probe was obstructed by tactics employed by Gambaryan and his team.
The minister also stressed that Gambaryan’s allegations of retaliatory actions by Nigerian officials were unsubstantiated and driven by a motive to intimidate those who pursued justice in his case.
“We categorically deny the retaliatory claims made by Mr. Gambaryan against Nigerian officials and urge the public to disregard these false accusations. His claims lack credibility and are clearly an attempt to tarnish the reputation of those who ensured he faced justice,” Idris stated.
The Federal Government assured the public that both the Nigerian and U.S. judicial systems would provide Gambaryan an opportunity to prove his claims in court. Meanwhile, it urged caution in accepting his statements as credible.
The press statement concludes by reiterating the government’s confidence in the legal process to address Gambaryan’s claims while reaffirming its commitment to upholding justice and transparency.
