ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, has strongly denied claims that bribes were demanded from Binance and its executives.
He therefore described the allegations as “false, malicious, and defamatory.”
In a statement titled “Limited Reaction to False, Malicious, and Defamatory Publications Against Me by Tigran Gambaryan of Binance, Onwusibe denied any coordination between his committee and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), or the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
The allegations stemmed from Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, who reportedly shared the claims on social media and with international media outlets like NPR and WIRED.
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According to Onwusibe, his committee’s investigation into Binance was triggered by a petition from a civil society organization alleging financial and economic crimes.
The lawmaker explained that Binance had requested a pre-hearing meeting before the public hearing.
This meeting took place on January 8, 2024, in his absence, as he was on official duty, Vanguard.
The official hearing was scheduled for January 10, 2024, but Binance’s CEO, Richard Teng, failed to appear. Also, multiple rescheduled dates were ignored.
Following Binance’s repeated refusal to comply, Onwusibe filed a defamation lawsuit against the company and its CEO in September 2024, demanding $3 billion in damages.
The case is currently before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.
The statement further highlighted Binance’s legal troubles in multiple countries, including fines and convictions in the U.S., Canada, India, and Uzbekistan for money laundering and unlicensed operations.
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Onwusibe accused Binance of using blackmail and misinformation to evade accountability in Nigeria.
He reaffirmed his commitment to clearing his name, stating that neither he nor his committee ever solicited bribes.
“My attention has been drawn to the publication by Mr. Tigran Gambaryan, Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, on his X (formerly Twitter) handle today, Friday, February 14, 2025,” Onwusibe stated.
“I have been inundated with thousands of phone calls, WhatsApp messages, SMS texts, and visits from colleagues and others at the National Assembly.
“I initially chose not to respond because the issues raised are sub judice, being the subject of a pending court action I initiated against Binance and its CEO, Mr. Richard Teng.
“I categorically deny any coordination between our congressional investigation and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), or the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
“No one in the ONSA, including the NSA, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, directed us to demand bribes from Binance, and no such bribes were ever demanded.
“It is regrettable that some Nigerians are quick to believe the worst about their country and its institutions without carefully examining the allegations.
“I have been unfairly maligned, and my party and its presidential candidate have been mocked over issues they have no involvement in.
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“On September 18, 2024, my counsel filed a lawsuit at the High Court of the FCT, Abuja, seeking an apology, retraction, and damages of three billion dollars ($3,000,000,000.00) against Binance and Mr. Teng.
“The House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes scheduled a public hearing after receiving petitions alleging Binance’s violations of Nigerian laws.
“Binance refused to attend the public hearing on January 10, 2024, and subsequent adjourned dates, despite being given every opportunity for a fair hearing.
“Now, Binance and its executives have resorted to blackmail and false accusations to deflect attention from the real issues.”