Nigerian lawmaker sues Binance executive over bribery claims: report

Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan is facing a $662,000 defamation lawsuit from a Nigerian lawmaker who denies allegations of bribery.

Nigerian lawmaker Philip Agbese has filed a 1 billion Nigerian Naira (around $662,000) defamation lawsuit against Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive, over bribery allegations, local news outlet Vanguard has learned.

The suit, lodged at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, claims that Gambaryan falsely linked Agbese to corruption schemes, per the report. Agbese denies the allegations and seeks a court declaration that the claims are defamatory. The lawsuit also demands a public apology, a ban on further claims, and 1 billion in Nigerian Naira in damages. In addition, Agbese is seeking 5 million in Nigerian Naira to cover legal fees.

Per Vanguard, the lawsuit centers on Gambaryan’s statements accusing Agbese and two other Nigerian lawmakers of seeking a $150 million bribe through crypto transactions.

According to Agbese’s legal team, the Binance executive’s statements were “false, malicious, and intended to damage” Agbese’s reputation, the report reads. The Nigerian lawmaker insists he has never owned a crypto account or participated in digital transactions. Crypto.news contacted a communications agency representing Gambaryan’s family and will update the article if a response is given.

Gambaryan, who holds American citizenship, was arrested alongside British-Kenyan Nadeem Anjarwalla by Nigerian law enforcement back in February 2023. The two were captured at an Abuja airport after authorities called for Binance representatives to come to the capital city. After their arrest, all naira and peer-to-peer services on Binance in Nigeria were halted.

After eight months in detention, a Nigerian court released Gambaryan when the government dropped money laundering charges against him.