Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s executive who was recently detained in Nigeria for several months, mentioned the names of three Nigerian lawmakers he accused of demanding a $150 million bribe from him during his travails.
Gambaryan and one other Binance official were detained by the federal government of Nigeria following the firm’s money laundering accusation and their support for criminal activities in the country.
Gambaryan was released after the Nigerian government dropped the charges against him after the United States government intervened.
During his detention in Nigeria, the Binance executive mentioned that some lawmakers at the National Assembly demanded bribes from him so that he could be freed from the arrest and prosecution.
But on Friday, February 14, the now-freed cryptocurrency executive mentioned the lawmakers’ names in a post on X. The suspected lawmakers he named are Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, Peter Akpanke, and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe.
According to Premium Times, Onwusibe is the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-corruption, while Agbese is the Green Chamber’s deputy spokesperson.
While efforts are being made to get the lawmakers’ side on the matter, Legit.ng recalled that the House of Representatives had denied bribery allegations from the cryptocurrency company and its executive. In the tweet, Gambaryan alleged that the Department of State Service (DSS) officials in the House of Representatives matter.
He recalled that their meeting was held at their office on Friday, January 5, 2024, as a prerequisite to meeting with the Lower Chamber. He said they were told to comply with whatever the House members directed them to do.
His tweet reads in part: “At the House meeting, there were three members present. Two of them were Peter Akpanke and Philip Agbese, both working under the leadership of Ginger Obinna Onwusibe. There was a third House member, but I don’t recall his name.
