By Ekene Okafor
Tigran Gambaryan, the head of financial crime at crypto firm Binance, has alleged that three Nigerian lawmakers demanded a $150 million bribe from him. The lawmakers named by Gambaryan are Peter Akpanke, Philip Agbese, and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, with Onwusibe ironically heading the House of Representatives Committee on anti-corruption.
Gambaryan claimed that the lawmakers demanded the bribe in cryptocurrency, to be paid into their personal wallets. He described the incident as a “Mickey Mouse operation” and alleged that the lawmakers set up fake cameras and media to make the meeting appear official.
The Binance official was detained in Nigeria for several months, accused of money laundering and encouraging criminality. However, he was released after the government dropped the charges against him, following the intervention of the US government.
Gambaryan’s allegations have not been independently verified, and the lawmakers have not yet commented on the matter.
