The federal government has refuted allegations of a $150 million bribery scheme, as asserted by Richard Teng, CEO of Binance Holdings Ltd, a global cryptocurrency trading platform.
Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, conveyed this stance in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
Recall that on Tuesday Teng accused Nigerian authorities of demanding $150 million in cryptocurrency as a bribe to halt the money laundering trial involving two Binance executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla.
Gambaryan, an American citizen and head of financial crime, and Anjarwalla, a British Kenyan, are currently facing trial for allegedly laundering over $35 million in Nigeria.
In response to these allegations, Ibrahim dismissed Teng’s claims as part of a coordinated international campaign by Binance to discredit the Nigerian government.
He further stated that the accusations lacked substance and were merely an attempt to coerce the government through blackmail.
“The Organisation made false allegations of bribery against unidentified Nigerian Government officials, who it claimed, demanded 150 million dollar in cryptocurrency payments to resolve the ongoing criminal investigation against the company.
“This claim by Binance lacks any iota of substance. It is nothing but a diversionary tactic and an attempted act of blackmail by a company desperate to obfuscate the grievous criminal charges it is facing in Nigeria.
“While this lawful investigation was going on, an executive of Binance, who was in court-sanctioned protective custody, escaped from Nigeria, and he is now a fugitive from the law.
“Working with the security agencies in Nigeria, Interpol is currently executing an international arrest warrant on the said fugitive.
“The phantom bribe claim is part of an orchestrated international campaign by this company that is facing criminal prosecution in many countries including the United States, to undermine the Nigerian Government,” Idris said.
The Minister recalled that, a week back, the founder and former CEO of Binance, Changpeng Zhao, was sentenced to prison in the United States, after pleading guilty to charges very similar to what Binance was being investigated for in Nigeria.
He added that Zhao agreed to pay a fine of 50 million dollar, while Binance is liable for 4.3 billion dollar in fines and forfeitures to the US Government.
“We would like to remind Binance that it will not clear its name in Nigeria by resorting to fictional claims and mudslinging media campaigns.
“The only way to resolve its issues will be by submitting itself to unobstructed investigation and judicial due process.
“The Federal Government will continue to act within its laws and international norms, and will not succumb to any form of blackmail from any entity, local or foreign,” Idris stressed.
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