General News
Again, Gambaryan, Binance Executive Accuses 3 Lawmakers, NSA of Demanding $150m Bribe
Tigran Gambaryan, head, Financial Crime Compliance Unit at Binance, cryptocurrency firm, who was detained in Nigeria for several months last year, has again alleged that three Nigerian lawmakers demanded a $150 million bribe from him.
Tigran Gambaryan, head, Financial Crime Compliance Unit at Binance
Gambaryan, also alleged that, Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA) demanded billions worth of crypto accounts to fund his future political ambitions. He, however, did not say in which currency the alleged demand was made.
Tweeting on his X handle, formerly known as Twitter, with the name @TigranGambaryan on Friday, Gambaryan named two lawmakers involved in a meeting of January 5, 2024, at the National Assembly as Peter Akpanke and Philip Agbese, whom he said were working under the committee of Ginger Obinna Onwusibe, while he could not recall the name of the third lawmaker.
Narrating his alleged ordeal in Nigeria on X, Gambaryan said that the lawmakers set up fake cameras and media to make the meeting with his team official but that the cameras were not even plugged in.
Onwusibe is the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Akpanke is a member of the committee, and Agbese is the deputy spokesperson of the House.
The NSA’s office and the lawmakers have all denied the allegations. This is just as the federal government called on Nigerians to disregard the accusations, saying there are false and outrageous.
Gambaryan, who was detained in February 2024 on a five-count allegation of money laundering, was released on October 23, 2024, on diplomatic grounds due to ill health.
Continuing, Gambaryan said ‘@NuhuRibadu invited us to the official meeting and worked through Sa’ad Abubakar. Another key figure in this situation was Hamma Adama Belloji. Ogunjobi was just a pawn; they used him too. This was sold as a friendly meeting with the NSA, the head of the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), and the CBN (Central of Bank of Nigeria) governor and includes a discussion of the briber that was solicited by the House of Representatives.
‘The $26 billion figure they kept pushing publicly as some mystery money escaping Nigeria is complete BS. This information was provided in response to their request and was simply cumulative trade data for Nigerians on the platform. This money didn’t leave Nigeria-it was just people buying and selling crypto. For example, if you trade $100 a hundred times, that’s $10,000 in trade volume, but in reality, you only used $100. Again, just another example of them lying to cover up their BS investigation.
‘They lied about Nadeem escaping during mosque prayers. In reality, he returned and escaped afterwards. I don’t know exactly how he managed to flee. He emailed me in November, but we haven’t discussed the details of his escape. It’s possible he paid someone off, but I have no proof. If Belloji had simply checked his passport for a visa, he would have realized that Nadeem did not use that passport to travel to Nigeria.
‘They sent a letter to the U.S. Embassy and the British High Commission, falsely claiming that we were voluntarily participating in strategic talks. This was a blatant lie’, he said.
While noting that some Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials, who were not present when Nadeem escaped, were detained, he added that: ‘Nadeem did not escape lawful detention-we were being held illegally. Belloji even admitted that he would fabricate evidence to obtain a court order to detain us for 14 days. Once the court order expired, they were unable to get an extension from the judge. At that point, they continued holding us illegally and had no justification for doing so.
‘There was a lot of noise about using Interpol to capture Nadeem. As someone who has been involved in multiple extradition cases, I can confidently say this was a joke. Extradition is a lengthy legal process, and no rational judge in Kenya or wherever would ever approve extradition for someone who escaped illegal detention at the hands of rogue law enforcement-especially when that detention involved holding employees hostage to pressure their employer. All noise’, he said.
Our company was a scapegoat’
Gambaryan stated further that Binance was made a scapegoat for the naira’s devaluation, when it was the direct result of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘monetary policy’. According to him, the Nigerian operatives violated international privacy laws on user data on all Nigerians to target opposition members for allegedly ‘manipulating the price of the naira.’
Accusations against Ribadu
Gambaryan said Ribadu emphasised that he wanted billions in payouts to fund his future political ambition but was ‘trapped’ because any settlement would be perceived as a bribe. He added: ‘I guess he really wanted his boss’ job.’
He added: ‘Ribadu even hired a U.S. law firm to negotiate my release, but this failed due to their incompetence and greed.
‘Ribadu overstepped his authority and embarrassed Nigeria in front of U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Ribadu acting like… angered the White House and led to diplomatic repercussions-the U.S. limited visas to the Nigerian delegation for UNGA (United Nations General Assembly), and (President Joe) Biden refused to meet with Tinubu until my situation was resolved.
‘In the end, Ribadu overestimated his influence. They thought they could secure a quick win, but instead, they created an international incident, exposing his incompetence on a global scale,’ the Binance executive said.
The federal government has however called on Nigerians to disregard what it called falsehoods being peddled by the Binance executive.
In a statement issued last night, Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation.
It noted with concern the ‘outrageous allegations, misinformation, and defamatory statements being disseminated by Tigran Gambaryan’.
He said while the federal government is hesitant to engage Mr Gambaryan, ”given the high-level diplomatic intervention that resolved his case, we are obliged to set the records straight to stop his falsehoods from gaining grounds.
‘The first visit by Mr Gambaryan and his colleagues to Nigeria was discretional on their part and government was not officially involved. However, when the attention of the government was called to an alleged bribery demand during that trip, an investigation was immediately opened into it, though there was no formal complaint by anyone.
‘Mr Gambaryan’s second visit to Nigeria was part of a wider probe into the criminal manipulation of the Nigerian currency through peer-to-peer platforms like Binance, but investigators were frustrated by the tactics deployed by Gambaryan and his team.
‘Mr Gambaryan was released by the Nigerian government in October 2024, on humanitarian grounds and following a high-level diplomatic intervention that ended with tangible benefits for Nigeria.
The government rejected Binance’s offer of a $5 million down payment in exchange for Mr Gambaryan’s freedom, in favour of a more beneficial settlement with the American government.’
The minister added, ‘we categorically deny the retaliatory claims made by Mr. Gambaryan against Nigerian officials involved in his case, and we urge the public to disregard these false accusations in their entirety.
‘It is essential to note that Mr. Gambaryan’s allegations are not only unsubstantiated but also lack credibility, given his apparent motive to discredit and intimidate those who ensured he faced justice.
‘However, we are confident that both the Nigerian and American judicial systems will provide Mr. Gambaryan with a fair opportunity to substantiate his claims in court. Until then, we advise the public to exercise caution and not be swayed by Mr. Gambaryan’s unfounded and malicious claims.’
Also speaking on the allegations, the lawmakers mentioned denied demanding bribe from Binance, asking Mr Gambaryan to provide evidence to back his allegations or be ready to face consequences.
One of the affected lawmakers and deputy spokesman of the House, Agbese, said he was ‘outraged’ by the ‘false’ allegation as he was not part of any meeting with the Binance team, but had a chance encounter with them when he visited his friend, Akpanke.
He said: ‘Let it be on record that I am not a member of the Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes. I visited my colleague, Peter Akpanke, in his office, where he was meeting with some visitors about the activity of his committee, with Peter Anekwe, a member of the committee present. We exchanged pleasantries and, in character with my person as an avid pursuer of knowledge, discussed Binance’s activities that did not include any demand from anyone.
‘It was during this visit to the office of Peter Akpanke, with Peter Anekwe present, that he told me they were interfacing with the Binance team from abroad over a referral to their committee. What transpired between the two of them and the Binance executive after I left the office is left to them. I never saw those visitors again after that chance meeting and did not afterwards attend any meeting with Binance executives, the EFCC, or the DSS (Directorate of State Services).
‘I am aware that when this issue was first raised, the chairman of the committee went to court and Binance apologised. So, all inquiries should be directed to the committee, not to Philip Agbese.
‘I have never used any cryptocurrency as I do not have a crypto wallet anywhere in the world, so I could not have asked for funds to be credited to a non-existent wallet.
‘Gambaryan and his associate, who escaped from prison, should return to the EFCC and defend themselves. Instead of trying to implicate me, they should focus on addressing the allegations against them’, he said.
Agbese demanded a retraction and an apology from Gambaryan within seven days if he failed to provide evidence or face legal action from his lawyers.
When contacted, Akpanke also denied demanding bribe from Binance executives as alleged and challenged Gambaryan to provide evidence that he (Akpanke) and other members of the committee demanded gratification from him as alleged.
Akpanke said: ‘Whatever we did with Binance was transparent; it was an open thing. Is it just to allege; how did we demand? This is the question you people should ask them as journalists. Where did we demand it? What for? Did the Nigerian government not charge them to court? If there were such a thing, why did they charge them to court? It is not true. I have not met Binance executives since we had a meeting with him in my office, in which I represented the chairman and everything was open and transparent. There was nothing hidden’.
While maintaining that he had no contact with the firm after submitting his investigation report to the chairman of the committee, Akpanke said the allegation had been made before and there is a pending court case about it and the firm had failed to show up.
Meanwhile, efforts to get the reaction of the chairman of the Financial Crimes Committee, Ginger Onwusibe, were not successful as he did not respond to calls and WhatsApp messages sent to him.
But a top government source said Gambaryan was being economical with the truth.
Efforts to speak with the NSA, Ribadu, were not successful. Also, Zakari Mijinyawa, who speaks on behalf of the office, could not be reached.
‘He (Gambaryan) contradicted himself because in one place he said Ribadu asked him for bribe to fund his future political ambition, and in another place, he said any money collected by Ribadu will be seen as bribe’, said the source.
Federal government said it is committed to the implementation of stricter, more organized drone regulations to balance innovation with national security.
This came as stakeholders at the 6th Dronetecx Conference and Exhibition in Lagos called for stronger regulation and a comprehensive national policy framework for unmanned aircraft systems as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) launched a Drone Portal.
Speaking at the conference, representatives of Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and NCAA, said Nigeria is intensifying efforts to balance innovation with national security as drone operations continue to expand across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, oil and gas, logistics, construction and security.
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser, represented by Commodore Oscar Mbanu, deputy director, Defence Affairs, said the federal government had adopted a strict but innovation-friendly regulatory framework requiring security clearance, end-user certification and operational approval before drones can be deployed.
He disclosed that a multi-agency drone task force involving the NCAA, security agencies and other relevant bodies had been established to strengthen monitoring, enforcement and accountability, while the End-User Certificate system would help track imported drones and prevent misuse.
Also speaking, Mahmud Kambari, permanent secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, represented by Mrs Rubiyatu Aliu, director of Air Safety and Administration in the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced the launch of a new digital drone registration portal and Flyer ID scheme introduced by the NCAA in partnership with Dronetecx to improve oversight and proper registration of operators.
She urged drone operators to comply with regulatory requirements, warning that innovation must operate within the law.
Captain Chris Najomo, director general of NCAA, said the Federal Government was moving from policy discussions to implementation with plans to establish a comprehensive national drone policy and roadmap approved by Mr Festus Keyamo, minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
He noted that the framework would complement existing aviation regulations and provide clearer direction for investors and operators in the rapidly growing industry.
Mr Fortune Edu, conference organiser and founder of Dronetecx, said Nigeria must urgently position itself as a leading player in Africa’s emerging drone economy or risk losing opportunities to countries already advancing in the sector.
He explained that the proposed national framework would support innovation, research, advanced air mobility and job creation while preparing the country for future drone applications including cargo delivery and passenger transportation.
Stakeholders at the conference expressed optimism that stronger collaboration between government agencies and industry operators would accelerate the safe growth of drone technology and support national development.
Dr. Olasupo Olusi, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Industry, has described the media as Nigeria’s most important development partner, noting that effective communication remains critical to national growth and institutional impact.
Speaking during an interactive session with media partners in Lagos, Olusi said journalists play a central role in shaping development outcomes by amplifying progress, accountability, and national aspirations.
“The media is the biggest agent of development anywhere,” he said. “Communicating what needs to be done and what has been done is critical in the journey of any development institution.”
Olusi used the engagement to unveil major milestones in BOI’s ongoing transformation agenda, which he said is focused on strengthening support for Nigeria’s private sector and driving inclusive economic growth.
On the BOI he met when he was appointed, Olusi said: “I inherited a very strong institution. The Bank of Industry was already one of the leading development finance institutions in Africa, and certainly a respected institution in Nigeria. I usually describe it as inheriting a Rolls-Royce.” He noted that the current leadership is innovating and repositioning the Bank to become even more effective in delivering long-term financing and developmental impact for Nigeria’s private sector.
“I came with the mindset of a development economist who truly believes in impact-making,” he said.
Olusi revealed that BOI has established an Impact Fund financed through a percentage of the Bank’s annual profits to support strategic national investments.
According to him, the Fund invested $15 million in the New Africa Medical Centre of Excellence in Abuja and N25 billion in the National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC) to improve access to financing for MSMEs lacking collateral.
“The objective is to remove the long-standing barriers preventing small businesses from accessing finance,” he explained.
The BOI boss also announced plans to commence non-interest banking operations following final regulatory approvals from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He said the initiative would provide inclusive financing options for Nigerians who prefer non-interest financial products.
In addition, Olusi disclosed that BOI has established more than 20 youth and skills hubs nationwide focused on ICT, agro-processing, fashion, printing, and entrepreneurship development.
“These hubs are designed to help young Nigerians learn, innovate, package products, and eventually establish sustainable businesses,” he stated.
Reaffirming BOI’s commitment to Nigeria’s economic transformation, Olusi said the Bank remains focused on creating measurable impact across communities and sectors nationwide.
“The opportunities for making a difference in Nigeria are enormous across all sectors and spheres of life,” he added.
Google’s annual I/O developer conference is a hub for exciting product updates. This year, “The Android Show: I/O Edition” offered an early preview of Android’s future. Packed with groundbreaking news, these updates will transform our Android interactions. Android, the world’s most popular OS with over 3 billion active devices, continues to innovate, bringing practical benefits and new possibilities.
For people in Nigeria, these advancements promise easier, safer, and more personal digital lives driven by Gemini Intelligence. From handing off your to-do list to unbreakable theft protection, dive into how Android’s 12 latest offerings will empower users across the continent:
1. Hand Off Your To-Do List with Gemini App Automation
Google is introducing Task Automation, allowing Gemini to navigate multi-step tasks across your apps so you can focus on other things. Instead of manually switching between apps and copying data, you can simply point your camera at a travel brochure in a hotel lobby and say, “Find a tour like this on Expedia for a group of six.” You can also long-press your power button over a grocery list in your notes app and ask Gemini to build a shopping cart with all the items for delivery. Gemini handles the logistics in the background while keeping you in complete control.
Availability: Already in beta on S26 and P10 Pro devices, and launching on Galaxy Fold8 and Pixel 11 later this year.
2. Speak Naturally with “Rambler” (Powered by Gemini)
Google is announcing Rambler, a revolutionary voice typing feature in Gboard that captures your underlying intent rather than just transcribing your exact words. Because we don’t always speak the way we want to write, Rambler lets you talk naturally—including self-corrections, repeats, and filler words like “ums” and “ahs”—and turns those raw thoughts into a polished, concise message. It is built for a global community and can seamlessly switch between multiple languages, like blending English and Hindi, within a single sentence.
Availability: Rolling out first to Pixel devices starting in Q3 2026.
3. A Personal Browsing Assistant with Gemini in Chrome
Google is announcing a built-in personal browsing assistant for Chrome on Android, designed to help you research and understand web content without ever leaving the app. By tapping the Gemini icon on your toolbar, the assistant opens at the bottom of your display so you can ask specific questions about the webpage you are currently viewing. Whether you need a quick summary of a long article or a detailed explanation of a complex topic, this tool seamlessly enhances your mobile web experience.
Availability: Rolling out to select Android 12+ devices with 4GB+ of RAM in the U.S. starting at the end of June.
4. Instant Image Customization with Nano Banana
Google is introducing Nano Banana, an innovative feature that lets you instantly create and customize images directly within your Chrome browser. For example, if you are studying for an online exam, you can simply ask your browsing assistant to turn a text-heavy page into an informative infographic. Similarly, if you are scrolling through apartment listings, you can ask the assistant to alter a photo of an empty room to include modern living room essentials, allowing you to instantly visualize ideas on the go.
Availability: Available in Chrome for Android starting next month.
5. Share with Anyone Using Quick Share & AirDrop
Google is announcing a massive expansion to Quick Share, making it compatible with AirDrop to solve the universal hassle of sharing files between different phone brands. If you are at a family gathering and want to share a video with friends using iOS, you can simply use Quick Share on your Android phone to generate a QR code. Scanning this code lets you instantly share high-quality media across devices via the cloud, breaking down the barriers between operating systems.
Availability: Expanding to more partners including Samsung, OPPO, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and HONOR this year.
6. OSmosis: Wireless iOS-to-Android Transfer
Google is announcing OSmosis, a completely overhauled, wireless iOS-to-Android transfer process that makes switching phones easier than ever. You can now wirelessly migrate your passwords, photos, messages, favorite apps, contacts, and even your precise homescreen layout directly from your iPhone to your new Android device without needing a cable.
Availability: Launching first on new Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices later this year.
7. Pro-Grade Creator Tools Natively on Instagram
Google is announcing an expanded partnership with Meta to bring pro-level camera and editing features natively to the Instagram app on Android flagships. Android creators can now enjoy Ultra HDR capture for lifelike, vibrant colors, along with built-in video stabilization to keep footage smooth while walking or dancing. The update also includes deep Night Sight integrations, ensuring you can capture the perfect shot even in the dimmest settings.
Availability: Rolling out to flagship devices throughout Q3 and Q4 2026.
8. Reclaim Your Time with “Pause Point”
Google is introducing Pause Point, a new digital wellbeing tool designed to help you stop mindless, autopilot scrolling. When you try to open an app you have identified as distracting, Pause Point gives you a mandatory 10-second breather to ask yourself, “Why am I here?” During this pause, you can do a quick breathing exercise or set a strict timer for your app usage. To ensure you stick to your goals, turning the feature off completely requires you to restart your phone.
Availability: Available in Q4 2026 across all countries and languages.
9. Unbreakable Biometric Theft Protection
Google is announcing a powerful new anti-theft measure that enhances the “Mark as lost” feature with biometric authentication. If your device is snatched, you can now lock it using your fingerprint or face in addition to the standard passcode. This provides an immediate, unbreakable layer of security, meaning that even if a thief spied on your PIN before stealing your phone, they will not be able to turn off device tracking or re-access your personal data.
Availability: Rolling out as a built-in feature on devices running Android 17.
10. Express Yourself with Noto 3D Emoji
Google is announcing Noto 3D, a massive update to the way we express ourselves with nearly 4,000 newly designed emoji. Moving away from flat 2D icons, these new 3D emoji bring a touch of physicality and weight to your digital conversations. Whether you are sending a wrapped burrito or a joyful smile, this visually vibrant collection bridges the digital divide, representing the difference between a message simply being received and a true presence felt.
Availability: Available across Google platforms, starting with Pixel phones later this year.
11. Fill Out Forms in a Single Tap with Gemini Personal Intelligence
Google is announcing an evolution to Autofill with Google, powered by Gemini’s Personal Intelligence. This new feature allows Android to automatically fill in complex forms across your apps and Chrome browser. By securely pulling relevant information from your connected apps or saved photos—such as passport details or frequent flyer numbers—your device saves you from the universal hassle of typing out tiny text on a mobile screen.
Availability: Rolling out in Q2 2026 for phones, and Q4 2026 for laptops and tablets.
12. Build Custom Widgets with Gemini Intelligence
Google is introducing Create My Widget, taking the first step in generative UI to give you more ways to make your device truly yours. You can now build entirely custom widgets just by describing what you want using natural language. For example, a meal prepper can ask for a widget that suggests high-protein recipes every week, or a cyclist can create a weather dashboard that surfaces exact wind speed and rain stats right on the home screen.
Availability: Launching in Q3 2026 for phones, watches, laptops, and tablets.
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