The Federal Government of Nigeria has voiced out over the Binance’s bribery allegations against unidentified Government officials where the CEO, Richard Teng claimed that $150 million demanded in cryptocurrency payments to resolve the ongoing criminal investigation against the company.
In a statement released through the aide to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris on Wednesday stating that the FG aware of attempts by Binance to launder its impaired image as an organisation that does not play by the rules and laws guiding business conduct in sovereign nations.
It was reported that the Global cryptocurrency platform, Binance, accused top Nigerian govt officials of demanding a $150 million bribe in crypto to settle criminal charges filed against the company which was made public by Binance Chief Executive Officer, Richard Teng, in a blog post published by the New York Times on Tuesday.
According to the report, Tigran Gambaryan, a compliance officer at Binance, received the unsettling message during a visit to Nigeria in January earlier before his arrest alongside a colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, escaped from lawful custody, currently facing trial in Nigeria over alleged money laundering and tax evasion charges.
The statement further stated that this claim by Binance CEO lacks any iota of substance, adding that it is nothing but a diversionary tactic and an attempted act of blackmail by a company desperate to obfuscate grievous criminal charges it is facing in Nigeria.
He said, “The facts of this matter remain that Binance is being investigated in Nigeria for allowing its platform to be used for money laundering, terrorism financing, and foreign exchange manipulation through illegal trading.
“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 security agencies in Nigeria, Interpol is currently executing international arrest warrant on the said fugitive.
The Minister noted that 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.
He said, “Just a week ago, 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 is being investigated for in Nigeria.
“In addition, Zhao agreed to pay a fine of $50 million, while Binance is liable for $4.3 billion in fines and forfeitures to 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 self to unobstructed investigation and judicial due process. The govt of Nigeria’ ll continue to act within its laws, international norms and will not succumb to any form of blackmail from any entity, local or foreign”, the Minister added.
