Unveiling the Ordeal: Binance Executive’s Confrontation with Nigerian Authorities
Insights into Tigran Gambaryan’s Detention Experience
In a gripping revelation, Binance’s high-ranking official, Tigran Gambaryan, has shed light on his harrowing experience with the Nigerian authorities, four months after securing his release. The executive has made a fervent appeal for justice, identifying several officials purportedly responsible for his arrest and detailing the distressing events of his eight-month ordeal.
Binance Leader Exposes Nigerian Officials
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A comprehensive article by WIRED delves into the events surrounding Tigran Gambaryan’s eight-month detention, highlighting his interactions with Nigerian officials, the dramatic escape of Nadeem Anjarwalla, a life-threatening health scare, and the relentless efforts for his liberation. Gambaryan, who served as Binance’s VP of Global Intelligence and Investigations, was detained alongside Anjarwalla, the regional manager for Kenya, amid Nigeria’s intensified scrutiny of Binance.
Allegations of Misconduct Against Nigerian Authorities
Early on a Friday morning, Gambaryan took to social media platform X, sharing intricate details of his ordeal. He accused the Nigerian Department of State Services (DSS) of orchestrating deceptive tactics during a meeting with the House Committee on Financial Crimes (HCFC). Gambaryan revealed that a preliminary meeting with the DSS on January 5, 2024, was allegedly a prerequisite for engaging with the House of Representatives. During this encounter, officials implied that Binance staff should comply with the House’s directives.
The executive has characterized this meeting as a “Mickey Mouse operation,” alleging that officials staged a fake media setup with non-functional cameras to create an illusion of official proceedings. This maneuver, according to Gambaryan, was a pretext to extort Binance employees.
Bribery Demands and Binance’s Response
The unfolding saga took a darker turn when Nigerian authorities allegedly demanded a $150 million bribe, payable in cryptocurrency to personal wallets, as a condition to “settle the allegations” against Binance. This attempt at extortion was publicly condemned by Binance’s CEO, Richard Teng, in May 2024. The executives opted to leave Nigeria rather than succumb to the bribe demand, though Gambaryan was later coaxed into returning to Nigeria in a bid to confront the incident and resolve the allegations.
Revelations of Corruption and Incompetence
Gambaryan has leveled serious accusations against the Nigerian officials involved in his detention. He disclosed that communications were sent to the US Embassy and the British High Commission falsely claiming that he and others were voluntarily engaged in strategic discussions. Among those implicated was Hamma’Adama Bello, an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who allegedly admitted to fabricating evidence to secure a court order for the detention of Binance executives.
Gambaryan further asserted that innocent EFCC detectives were wrongfully detained following Anjarwalla’s escape, while the true culpability lay with Belloji for numerous failures in law enforcement. He also accused the authorities of attempting to breach international privacy laws by demanding user data to target opposition members allegedly influencing the naira’s value.
The Fallout on Binance’s Relations and Operations
The unfolding events, marked by greed and incompetence, have severely impacted Binance’s previously robust collaboration with Nigerian law enforcement. Gambaryan’s illegal detention has strained relations to a critical point, complicating efforts to restore the exchange’s operations in the region.
