Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Federal Government of Nigeria has urged citizens to disregard the “outrageous allegations, misinformation, and defamatory statements” made by Tigran Gambaryan, an American personnel of Binance.
According to a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris on Friday, Gambaryan’s claims are “falsehoods” aimed at discrediting Nigerian officials involved in his case.
Idris explained that Gambaryan’s initial visit to Nigeria was discretionary and not sanctioned by any government entity. However, when an alleged bribery demand was reported, an investigation was promptly initiated.
“The first visit by Gambaryan and his colleagues to Nigeria was discretional on their part, and the government was not officially involved,” Idris stated. He also clarified that Gambaryan’s second visit was part of a broader probe into the alleged manipulation of the Nigerian currency through peer-to-peer platforms like Binance.
The minister further revealed that Gambaryan was released in October 2024 on humanitarian grounds, following a high-level diplomatic intervention that benefited Nigeria.
The government rejected Binance’s offer of a $5 million down payment in exchange for Gambaryan’s freedom, opting for a more beneficial settlement with the American government instead.
“We categorically deny the retaliatory claims made by Gambaryan against Nigerian officials involved in his case, and we urge the public to disregard these false accusations in their entirety,” Idris emphasized.
The government has expressed confidence in the Nigerian and American judicial systems, noting that Gambaryan will have his day in court to substantiate his claims.
