Nigerian Lawmaker Sues Binance Exec Tigran Gambaryan for ₦1 Billion Over Bribery Allegation

Nigeria’s Home of Representatives member Philip Agbese has filed a ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit towards Tigran Gambaryan, an government at Binance, over allegations that he and two different lawmakers sought a $150 million bribe.

The lawsuit, filed on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Excessive Court docket in Abuja, claims that Gambaryan’s social media statements falsely linked Agbese to corruption, severely damaging his status.

Nigerian Lawmaker Denies Crypto Ties, Sues for Defamation

In line with a neighborhood information outlet, Agbese is in search of a declaration that Gambaryan’s statements have been defamatory, an order stopping him from making additional claims, and a public retraction of the allegations.

He additionally calls for ₦1 billion on the whole damages and an extra ₦5 million to cowl authorized bills.

The controversy stems from social media posts through which Gambaryan accused Agbese and two different legislators of making an attempt to safe a $150 million bribe via cryptocurrency transactions.

The claims shortly gained traction on-line and have been extensively reported by Nigerian media shops, together with Channels Tv and Blueprint.

Agbese’s authorized workforce, led by Barrister S. Ihensekhien, argues that the allegations are false, malicious, and damaging to the lawmaker’s status.

The lawsuit asserts that Agbese has by no means owned a cryptocurrency account or engaged in digital foreign money transactions.

Along with monetary compensation, the lawsuit calls for that Gambaryan subject a public apology in a minimum of three nationwide newspapers and take away all social media posts containing the allegations.

The swimsuit additionally seeks a court docket injunction to forestall additional dissemination of the claims.

The Nigerian authorities has additionally intervened within the matter.

On February 14, 2025, the Minister of Info and Nationwide Orientation dismissed Gambaryan’s accusations, stating that no credible proof had been offered to assist them.

The federal government expressed concern over what it described because the unfold of misinformation, significantly from individuals below authorized scrutiny.

Binance Exec Tigran Gambaryan Freed After Months in Nigerian Detention

Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance government specializing in monetary crime compliance, was arrested in Nigeria in February 2024 on cash laundering fees throughout a enterprise journey.

His colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, managed to flee to Kenya, however Gambaryan remained detained at Kuje Correctional Heart.

Binance has persistently denied wrongdoing and known as for his launch, arguing that he was not an organization decision-maker.

The alternate additionally alleged that Nigerian officers requested a secret cost to resolve the difficulty, a declare the Nigerian authorities denies.

You may additionally like Nigeria Pushes Again In opposition to Binance, Claims CEO’s Bribe Allegation ‘Lacks Any Iota of Substance’

He initially confronted each tax evasion and cash laundering fees, however the tax fees have been dropped, and he remained detained for alleged cash laundering.

After months of diplomatic stress, on October 23, 2024, a Nigerian court docket formally dropped all fees, permitting Gambaryan to return to the U.S. for medical remedy.

His detention led to extreme well being problems, together with pneumonia, malaria, and a herniated disk that left him reliant on crutches.

Regardless of medical studies recommending surgical procedure, his requests for medical consideration have been repeatedly denied.

The court docket ordered Gambaryan to pay a $2,000 high-quality for overstaying his visa earlier than returning to the U.S.

Regardless of all these authorized assaults, Binance continues to dispute these allegations and is partaking with Nigerian officers to resolve the matter.

Wanting ahead, the court docket has ordered Gambaryan to reply to its new lawsuit inside eight days. Notices can be served via Nigerian media or his authorized workforce.

If he fails to reply, the court docket might proceed in his absence.

Crypto, Politics, and Defamation: A Nigerian Court docket Showdown

The authorized conflict between Nigerian lawmaker Philip Agbese and Binance government Tigran Gambaryan highlights tensions between politics and the crypto business.

Agbese has filed a ₦1 billion defamation swimsuit, asserting that false claims of a bribery try have harmed his public picture.

In the meantime, Gambaryan—beforehand cleared of cash laundering fees—now faces one other court docket problem.

This dispute displays Nigeria’s wrestle to manage cryptocurrencies whereas balancing innovation and accountability.

Because the proceedings proceed, the ruling might not solely settle a private dispute but additionally redefine accountability for each public figures and crypto corporations, setting a precedent for a way weighty on-line claims are addressed in a digital society.

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