Tigran Gambaryan, former Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, has accused Nigerian authorities of scapegoating the exchange to divert attention from government corruption.
In a recent report, he claimed Nigerian officials allegedly pressured Binance for billions in payouts instead of investigating government financial misconduct.
Gambaryan claimed officials prioritized blaming Binance for economic failures rather than holding corrupt officials accountable. Gambaryan was detained for eight months on money laundering charges, with authorities blaming Binance for forex instability. He was released in October 2024 after U.S. government intervention, including FBI Director Christopher Wray raising the case.
In a Wired report, Gambaryan described his detention as life-threatening, citing extreme weight loss and deteriorating health. The report alleged Nigerian officials demanded a $150 million bribe, payable in crypto, to settle Binance’s legal troubles.
The Nigerian government denied the allegations, calling them an attempt to discredit legal proceedings. Gambaryan claimed he reported the bribery attempt to the NSA and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
These accusations further escalate tensions between Binance and Nigerian regulators, raising concerns about corruption and transparency in the country’s financial enforcement.
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