The federal government has dismissed claims by Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, urging Nigerians to disregard what it described as falsehoods and misinformation.
In a statement issued last night, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, expressed concern over Gambaryan’s “outrageous allegations, misinformation, and defamatory statements.”
“While the federal government is reluctant to engage Mr. Gambaryan, given the high-level diplomatic intervention that secured his release, we must set the record straight to prevent the spread of falsehoods,” Idris stated.
He explained that Gambaryan’s first visit to Nigeria was voluntary and not arranged by the government. However, when allegations of bribery surfaced, an investigation was launched despite the absence of a formal complaint.
The minister further clarified that Gambaryan’s second visit was part of a broader probe into the alleged manipulation of the naira through peer-to-peer platforms like Binance. He claimed that investigators faced obstacles due to tactics employed by Gambaryan and his team.
“Mr. Gambaryan was released in October 2024 on humanitarian grounds after high-level diplomatic negotiations that brought tangible benefits to Nigeria. The government rejected Binance’s offer of a $5 million down payment for his release, opting instead for a more beneficial settlement with the U.S. government,” he said.
Idris categorically denied Gambaryan’s allegations against Nigerian officials, calling them unsubstantiated and misleading.
“We trust that both the Nigerian and American judicial systems will give him a fair opportunity to prove his claims in court. Until then, we urge the public to exercise caution and not be misled by baseless accusations,” he added.
