News

Binance Executive, Gambaryan Reveals Three Nigerian Lawmakers Who Demanded $150m Bribe

Published

8 months ago

February 14, 2025

Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan has opened up about his ordeal in Nigerian custody.

In January 2024, Gambaryan was detained by law enforcement officials in the country.

In a long social media post, he claimed the experience involved shady dealings, international tensions, and the figure of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

According to Gambaryan, several lawmakers set up a meeting and demanded a $150 million bribe, which was to be paid in cryptocurrency into their personal wallets.

Gambaryan wrote: “The DSS was involved in the House of Representatives matter. We met with them at their office on Friday, January 5, 2024, as a prerequisite to our meeting with the House of Representatives. They alluded to the fact that we had to comply with whatever the House members instructed us to do.

“At the House meeting, there were three members present. Two of them were Peter Akpanke and Philip Agbese, both working under the leadership of Ginger Obinna Onwusibe. There was a third House member, but I don’t recall his name.

“They set up fake cameras and media to make the meeting appear official, but the cameras weren’t even plugged in. As you may already know, this ended with them asking for a $150 million bribe, paid in cryptocurrency into their personal wallets. A Mickey Mouse operation at its best.

“@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, and the CBN governor and included the discussion of the bribe 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 afterward. 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.

“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.

“They tried to use us to violate international privacy laws by demanding user data on all Nigerians to target opposition members allegedly ‘manipulating the price of the naira.’ However, they all knew that the naira’s devaluation was a direct result of Tinubu’s monetary policy, which depegged the naira from the dollar.

“I’m not saying this policy decision was wrong, but everyone understood that removing government intervention would lead to extreme devaluation. Instead of acknowledging this, they used Binance as a scapegoat.”

In October 2024, DAILY POST reported that the federal government had withdrawn the money laundering charges filed against Gambaryan.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, in April 2024, arraigned Binance and Gambaryan over alleged money laundering.

This followed a clampdown on the cryptocurrency firm over alleged manipulation of the naira.

Also, recall that the Nigerian government and Binance had been at loggerheads after Olayemi Cardoso, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, said $26 billion was funneled through Binance without a trace.
(DAILY POST)

News

Edo Deputy Gov Orders Installation Of Solar In PHC Facility

Published

50 minutes ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

Deputy governor of Edo State, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, on Monday, ordered the immediate installation of solar power at Aruogba Clinic, Benin to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

A statement by Friday Aghedo, Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, said the order was given when Idahosa went on an inspection visit to the health facility.

The deputy governor, while reinstating the state government’s commitment to strengthening grassroots healthcare system across the state, noted that as a result, Primary Health Centers (PHCs) across the state were being transformed to deliver on governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda.

While commending the pace of work at Aruogba Clinic, he said: “We are here to ensure that the health facilities closest to the people are well equipped to bequeath the healthcare system that the Governor has promised.

“From what we are seeing here today, it is clear that Governor Okpebholo is a man of vision. The accessibility is very good, and the nurses and health workers here are doing commendable jobs,” he stated.

The deputy governor added that the government would intensify supervision of PHCs across Edo to identify and fix areas needing urgent attention.

“We are going to visit many other centres and act within 24 hours on areas of improvement,” he assured.

Idahosa emphasized that proper supervision was key to ensuring compliance with medical standards and improved service delivery at the grassroots.

His remarks were echoed by Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole, who explained that the administration was working with the “3As” of healthcare: accessibility, affordability, and availability.

“The solar installation at Aruogba Clinic, officials said, will boost critical services such as antenatal care, child delivery, and malaria treatment, all of which are already being offered free of charge,” he explained.

News

Oba Of Benin Ushers In ‘Emorọ’

Published

58 minutes ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, is set to perform an age-long Emorọ otherwise known as the ‘New Yam Festival.’

A statement signed by Frank Irabor, Secretary, Benin Traditional Council, said the ceremony which takes place on Tuesday September 30th 2025, is expected to be indoors in the Palace of the Oba of Benin.

Irabor added that the ceremony followed a successful completion of two-weeks fasting and prayer declared by Oba Ewuare II for peace, progress and to usher-in Emorọ.

Irabor said Oba Ewuare II used the fasting period to pray for the good people of Edo State and Nigeria and other people of goodwill.

The statement reads, “Accordingly, Omo N’ Oba appreciates all Edo indigenes and non indigenes and Edo sons and daughters in the diaspora that participated in the spiritual exercise and urge them to commence the consumption of Emorọ (new yam), while praying God Almighty and his Royal ancestors to answer their prayers.”

It added: “The indoor ceremony of ushering new yam (Emorho) into the Palace, would be performed on Tuesday, 30th September, 2025″.

“Thereafter, all sons and daughters of Benin Kingdom and, by extension indigenes and non-indigenes living in Edo State who participated in the two weeks fasting and prayer are to commence the eating of the new yam.

“The Omo N’Oba prays to God Almighty to grant us peace and happiness in our individual homes”.

News

UNIBEN Bars 5000 Students From Writing Exam

Published

2 hours ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

No fewer than 5,000 students of the University of Benin are likely to miss the second semester examination over failure to pay their school fees.

A memo released by the Registrar of the institution, Ademola Bobola, said they are the students who failed to pay their school charges despite repeated reminders, and that they failed to subscribe to students’ loan being provided by the Nigerian Education Students’ Loan Fund (NELFUND).

According to Bobola, to make sure that the defaulting students are bar from writing the second semester examination which has already commenced today, September 29, 2025, the school management has put in place an enforcement team.

The memo reads partly, “With the Second Semester examination set to begin on Monday 29th September, 2025, these students shall be barred from writing the examination if they fail to pay their school charges or subscribe to the students loan by NELFUND.

“About 5,000 students have been identified in this category of defaulters.

“In compliance with the directive of Senate of the University of Benin, these students SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED to write the forthcoming examination.

“Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Deans, Directors and Heads of Departments are SPECIALLY required to enforce the directive of Senate without compromise.

“In this regard, the Provost, Deans, Directors and Heads of Departments are to publish the list of ALL DEFAULTING STUDENTS in their respective Colleges, Schools, Faculties, Institutes and Departments not later than 8am on Monday, 29th September, 2025.

“This is to enable the affected students to know their status as defaulters and afford them the opportunity to remedy their situation before the examination begins.

“Management has, accordingly, appointed an Enforcement Task Force headed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), to monitor and enforce full compliance with the directive of Senate.

“Management expects full cooperation and compliance by all stakeholders to maintain the University’s high standards.”