New allegations have emerged implicating Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, in an alleged $150 million cryptocurrency bribe scandal. The claims were made by Tigran Gambaryan, a top Binance executive, in a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), where he accused Nigerian lawmakers of attempting to extort the massive sum while he was in custody.
Gambaryan, who was detained in Nigeria for months on money laundering allegations, alleged that Onwusibe, alongside lawmakers Peter Akpanke and Philip Agbese, staged a fake meeting in early January 2024. According to him, the meeting featured non-functional cameras to create the illusion of an official proceeding, but in reality, the lawmakers allegedly demanded that the bribe be paid in cryptocurrency to their personal wallets.
Even before the meeting, Gambaryan claimed, the Department of State Services (DSS) had hinted that compliance with the lawmakers’ demands was necessary. This raises serious concerns about a potential collaboration between security agencies and lawmakers in the alleged extortion attempt.
DSS, NSA, and Financial Regulators Implicated
In his post, Gambaryan also implicated National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, alleging that Ribadu sought billions in payouts to fund his future political ambitions. He further claimed that Ribadu’s handling of the case backfired, leading to diplomatic tensions with the United States. As a result, the U.S. government reportedly limited visas for Nigerian officials attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and postponed a meeting between Presidents Bola Tinubu and Joe Biden.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s financial regulators, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), were allegedly involved in discussions about the controversial bribe demand.
Crypto Firm Denies Money Laundering Allegations
The Nigerian government had accused Binance of laundering $26 billion out of the country. However, Gambaryan dismissed this claim in his post, stating that the figure was simply cumulative trade data from Nigerian users on the platform and not actual money leaving the country. He described the accusations as part of a deliberate attempt to justify their unlawful detention.
Also Read: Traditional Ruler Allegedly Took Bribes to Allow Herders to Damage Farms in Obingwa
Illegal Detention and Alleged Escape
Gambaryan also refuted Nigerian authorities’ claim that his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, escaped custody during mosque prayers. He stated that Nadeem had initially returned but later fled under unknown circumstances, possibly with assistance. Despite Nigerian officials’ threats to involve Interpol, legal experts argue that no country would approve the extradition of someone who escaped illegal detention.
Medical and Diplomatic Pressure
While in custody, Gambaryan alleged that Nigerian authorities pressured Nizamiya Hospital not to admit him when he fell ill. He further claimed that hospital administrators were instructed to withhold his medical records from his attorneys. The Turkish Ministry of Health later confirmed that the Nigerian government had attempted to block access to his medical information.
Additionally, Gambaryan revealed that Nigerian officials misled the U.S. and British governments by falsely claiming Binance executives were voluntarily participating in strategic discussions.
Growing Fallout
With Gambaryan’s allegations now public on X, the controversy surrounding Nigeria’s handling of the Binance case has intensified. Pressure is mounting on the Nigerian government to address the accusations, with calls for an independent investigation into the House of Representatives’ alleged involvement in the extortion attempt.
Neither Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, Peter Akpanke, nor Philip Agbese has publicly responded to the allegations at the time of this report. However, Gambaryan’s revelations have already deepened scrutiny of Nigeria’s security agencies, financial regulators, and political institutions.
This is a developing story.
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