Rights Group faults FG, lawmakers’ approach over Binance executive’s $150m bribery allegations  

Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, urged the FG to approve an “independent investigation” into the allegations rather than outrightly dismissing them, especially as the claims continue to resurface.

Onwubiko made this known in a statement on Sunday.

Since Friday, there have been mixed reactions following Gambaryan’s bribery and “scapegoat” allegations against some Nigerian lawmakers and security officials.

Posting via his X account on Friday, Gambaryan stated that he visited Nigeria for a meeting with Nigerian lawmakers and relevant authorities.

He claimed he was allegedly told to comply with whatever the House members “instructed us to do.”

Gambaryan also named the lawmakers who allegedly demanded the bribe.

“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.

“They set up fake cameras and media to make the meeting appear official, but the cameras weren’t even plugged in. As you may already know, this ended with them asking for a $150 million bribe, paid in cryptocurrency into their personal wallets. A Mickey Mouse operation at its best,” Gambaryan stated.   

Gambaryan also maintained that the naira’s devaluation was allegedly a direct result of President Tinubu’s monetary policy, which pegged the naira to the dollar, rather than Binance’s role in currency fluctuations.

“I’m not saying this policy decision was wrong, but everyone understood that removing government intervention would lead to extreme devaluation,” he claimed.   

He added that instead of acknowledging this, relevant authorities allegedly used Binance as a scapegoat.

Reacting strongly to the allegations, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, dismissed Gambaryan’s claims.

He further stated that Gambaryan’s second visit to Nigeria was part of a broader probe into the alleged criminal manipulation of the Nigerian currency through peer-to-peer platforms like Binance.

He stressed that Nigerian investigators were frustrated by the tactics employed by Gambaryan and his team, which led the government to reject Binance’s offer of a $5 million down payment in exchange for Gambaryan’s release. Instead, the government opted for a more comprehensive settlement with the American government.

 “It is essential to note that Mr. Gambaryan’s allegations are not only unsubstantiated but also lack credibility, given his apparent motive to discredit and intimidate those who ensured he faced justice,” Idris added.   

 “It is essential to note that Mr. Gambaryan’s allegations are not only unsubstantiated but also lack credibility, given his apparent motive to discredit and intimidate those who ensured he faced justice,” Idris added.   

HURIWA Reacts

“We acknowledge the obvious fact that the legislators named as demanding bribes by Mr. Gambaryan have strenuously denied their involvement in the bribery scandal, and we don’t have contrary evidence to doubt them. However, the Federal Government should have empanelled an independent investigative body within Nigeria to expeditiously probe these disturbing allegations and make their findings public instead of simply issuing a media statement to debunk the claims,” he stated.   

 “What the Federal House of Representatives should do in this situation is refute the allegations by displaying, for Nigerians to see on public and private television, and video recordings of their meeting with Mr. Gambaryan in Nigeria,” he said.   

“We demand that the Federal House of Representatives counter these allegations by releasing video evidence of the sittings held by the House committee or subcommittee with Mr. Gambaryan,” Onwubiko stated.   

HURIWA further urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order an independent investigation into the bribery allegations, now that the bribery claims have been repeated.

Onwubiko also called on the accused legislators and officials to sue Gambaryan for defamation in a Nigerian court immediately but also be prepared to appear in a U.S. court if required.