In a shocking revelation, a senior executive at cryptocurrency giant Binance has dropped a bombshell allegation, accusing Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, of soliciting billions of dollars in payouts to bankroll his rumoured political aspirations. This explosive claim, made by Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, raises serious questions about the integrity and accountability of Nigeria’s highest echelons of power and demands immediate attention and scrutiny from the nation’s citizens and leaders.
Tigran Gambaryan, a former US federal agent and Binance employee, has leveled serious allegations against Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, following his release from detention.
After being detained in February 2024 and released in October 2024 following U.S. diplomatic pressure, which led to the Nigerian government dropping money laundering charges against him, Gambaryan alleges that Nuhu Ribadu demanded billions in payouts to finance his political ambitions.
Gambaryan further alleges that Ribadu hired a U.S. law firm to negotiate his release, but the firm’s incompetence and greed ultimately caused the effort to fail.
He claims that Ribadu overstepped his authority, embarrassing Nigeria before former U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and triggering diplomatic repercussions.
According to Gambaryan, this led the U.S. to impose visa restrictions on the Nigerian delegation at the United Nations General Assembly and resulted in then-President Joe Biden refusing to meet with President Tinubu until the issue was resolved.
Sharing details of the meeting, Gambaryan alleged that the officials were motivated by greed, stating, “Ribadu stressed that he sought billions in payouts to finance his future political ambitions.”
Gambaryan remarked that when the corruption scandal surfaced, “he was trapped—because any settlement would now be seen as a bribe. I guess he really wanted his boss’ job.”
SaharaReporters previously reported that Gambaryan, a U.S. national detained on February 26, 2024, was released on October 23 after the government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), dropped the money laundering charges against him.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, discharged Gambayran on health grounds.
The EFCC had informed the court that the case could not proceed on the last adjourned date due to Gambayran’s health condition.
The Commission stated that a report from the Nigerian Correctional Service, through the Office of the NSA, indicated that Gambayran’s health had deteriorated to the extent that he could hardly walk without the assistance of a wheelchair, in addition to suffering from other health issues.
In a statement posted on his X account on Friday, Gambaryan claimed that Ribadu hired a U.S. law firm to negotiate his release, but the effort failed due to the firm’s incompetence and greed.
He further alleged that Ribadu exceeded his authority, causing embarrassment for Nigeria in front of former U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
He stayed, “Ribadu acting like an asshole angered the White House and led to diplomatic repercussions”, which he said led to the United States’ limited visas to the Nigerian delegation for United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), and Biden’s refusal to meet with Tinubu until “my situation was resolved”.
Gambaryan said, “In the end, Ribadu overestimated his influence. They thought they could secure a quick win, but instead, they created an international incident, exposing his incompetence on a global scale.
“That’s for me for now. I don’t want to dwell on this, but Nigerians need to get the facts. I met amazing people in Nigeria. It’s a shame that these muppets are in charge.”
However, he clarified that Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS), was involved in the House of Representatives matter.
In early 2024, Gambaryan traveled to Nigeria to address regulatory concerns between Binance and the Nigerian government. During his visit, he and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, were detained by Nigerian authorities on charges of money laundering and tax evasion.
Gambaryan was held in Kuje Prison for eight months under harsh conditions, facing significant health challenges. He was ultimately released in late 2024 after diplomatic interventions from the U.S. government.
The Fount 
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