Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, has doubled down on his explosive claims that three Nigerian lawmakers attempted to extort a staggering $150 million in cryptocurrency to halt his arrest and prosecution.
In a dramatic series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Gambaryan directly named the legislators—Ginger Onwusibe, Philip Agbese, and Peter Akpanke—alleging they requested the massive sum to be wired to their crypto wallets. His accusations sparked a political firestorm, with two of the accused swiftly denying the claims and threatening legal action.
The Nigerian government also joined the denial train as the minister of information, Mohammed Idris also debunked the claim.
Speaking further on Saturday, Gambaryan painted a harrowing picture of his ordeal. The former U.S. Treasury Special Agent, who has dedicated his career to fighting financial crime, described his time in Nigeria as a personal and professional nightmare.
“The reality is that last year was incredibly painful for me and my family,” he wrote. “Being dragged through court on outrageous, baseless, and trumped-up charges didn’t just hurt me—it also brought immense pain to my family.”
His words carried the weight of a man who has seen too much, endured too much.
“I don’t want to see my kids cry because I’m not around. I don’t want to see videos of my 75-year-old mother on television in tears. I don’t want to see my wife crying on TV. I want to put this nightmare behind me and move on.”
Gambaryan insists his claims are not speculation but facts rooted in personal experiences and firsthand conversations. He says the information was shared with both Nigerian and U.S. law enforcement, adding another layer of complexity to the already strained relations between Binance and Nigerian authorities.
While the Nigerian lawmakers deny the allegations, the controversy raises serious questions: Was Gambaryan a victim of a failed shakedown? Or is this a case of political damage control spiraling into an international scandal?
“I am no longer in law enforcement,” he stated. “The responsibility of seeing this through to a logical conclusion now falls on those still serving in the United States and Nigeria.”
He further said, “I was invited by the Nigerian FIU to a meeting in January. Last time I checked, they are part of the Nigerian government. House members also invited us to the meeting. Last time I checked, the legislative branch is also part of the Nigerian government,” he said.
“You said the second part was part of a probe? Lol. So when you invited us to a friendly meeting, you even lied about that?
“I was in a safe house for a month, watching TV, while you were trying to use me as leverage. You then panicked and knowingly charged me with blatantly false accusations.
“So I was released on humanitarian grounds? At least you’re finally admitting the need to release me. Last time you posted, you claimed my health was fine and that there was nothing wrong with me.
“You investigated? Yet you didn’t take a statement from me? A person with direct knowledge. What a joke.
“You dragged my name through the mud for the past year with zero evidence against me, nearly killed me, and caused trauma to my family. And now you have the nerve to talk about defamation?
“I’ll put my credibility on the line anytime. In court? You mean like last time, when your attorneys didn’t even show up to the human rights suit in Abuja?
“Get your facts straight. I am done with this foolishness. I said my part. I’ll be off Twitter now since it’s pointless to argue with evil.”
