Lawmaker denies Binance bribery allegations, calls claims malicious

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Hon. Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, has strongly denied allegations of bribery leveled against him by Tigran Gambaryan, a senior executive of Binance.

The lawmaker, who has been leading an investigation into Binance’s operations in Nigeria, described the accusations as false, malicious, and defamatory.

Onwusibe’s response, issued on Saturday, came after Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance, alleged on social media that the lawmaker and his colleagues demanded bribes during an investigative hearing on Binance’s activities in Nigeria.

The claims were also reported in international media, including NPR and Wired, suggesting that Binance executives were being subjected to political and legal harassment in Nigeria.

Initially, Onwusibe chose to ignore the accusations as the case was already before the court. However, given the widespread public reactions and what he described as the “unfair demonization” of his person, political party, and even his ethnic group, he felt compelled to respond.

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According to Onwusibe, Binance executives had requested a pre-hearing meeting before the public investigation into the company’s activities. He obliged, stating that the meeting was professional, transparent, and ended on a cordial note.

He dismissed the allegations of bribery, asserting that no such demands were made during their discussions.

Commitment to Accountability

The lawmaker reaffirmed that his primary focus is ensuring Binance is held accountable for any financial misconduct. He emphasized that the committee’s investigation has been conducted fairly and in line with its legislative responsibilities.

“The case, which now has both legal and diplomatic implications, is expected to draw even more attention in the coming weeks,” Onwusibe noted.

As scrutiny over Binance’s operations in Nigeria continues, the controversy surrounding these bribery allegations is likely to intensify, attracting both local and international attention.