The House of Representatives has distanced itself from allegations that some of its members demanded a $150 million bribe from Binance, stating that the claims were directed at individual lawmakers and not the institution as a whole.
The controversy began when Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s head of financial crime compliance, accused some Nigerian lawmakers of attempting to extort money from the cryptocurrency company. However, in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, the House reaffirmed its commitment to due process and the rule of law.
House Reps Reject Allegations
Speaking on behalf of the House, its spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, dismissed the allegations as misleading.
“These allegations, which were first circulated last year, are targeted at individual members, not the institution of the House itself,” Rotimi said.
He also noted that the lawmakers involved had assured the House leadership of their innocence and were taking legal steps to clear their names.
“The Honourable Members named have assured the House Leadership that they never had any such dealings as reported. One of the members has already instituted legal action to clear his name, while others affected have been encouraged to do the same in pursuit of justice and the protection of their reputations,” he added.
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Bribery Allegations Raise Diplomatic Concerns
The House of Representatives also pointed out that the case has escalated into a diplomatic issue, involving both the Nigerian and U.S. governments. The Nigerian government had earlier rejected a $5 million settlement offer from Binance, reinforcing its position that national interest comes before external commercial pressures.
“This raises serious questions about the credibility and intentions behind these allegations,” Rotimi said.
House Calls for Public Caution
The House emphasized that since the matter is already before a court and subject to diplomatic discussions, it would not make further comments.
“In line with parliamentary, judicial, and diplomatic principles, we will not be making additional statements while these processes are underway,” Rotimi stated.
He urged the public to be cautious about spreading unverified reports.
“We ask the public to rely on confirmed facts rather than recycled claims aimed at discrediting Nigerian institutions and public officials,” he added.