Ginger Onwusibe, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, strongly denied Binance's recent accusation that Nigerian authorities sought a $140 million bribe. Onwusibe dismissed the claim as a blatant attempt at extortion, accusing Binance of trying to divert attention from the facts.
The controversy arose following the arrest of two Binance executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, in February 2024, on suspicion of involvement in a $26 billion illegal fund transaction. The executives were detained and had their passports confiscated, leading them to file lawsuits against Nigerian authorities, alleging violations of their rights.
Adding fuel to the fire, Binance CEO Richard Teng accused Nigeria of demanding a $140 million bribe to settle the case. However, the Committee on Financial Crimes adamantly refuted Binance's claims, labeling them as a distraction tactic and a form of blackmail.
During a press conference, Onwusibe stated, "There were absolutely no solicitations or demands made by our Committee towards Binance." He rejected Binance's accusations as fabricated, intended to shift focus away from the serious criminal charges against the company.
Onwusibe emphasized Nigeria's commitment to tackling cryptocurrency-related crimes, citing ongoing investigations by various regulatory agencies such as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He stressed that Binance's alleged criminal activities are not confined to Nigeria but pose a global challenge requiring international collaboration.
May 2024, Cryptoniteuae