Nigerian Federal Government responds decisively to Binance CEO's bribery allegations, denouncing them as blackmail. Amidst accusations of money laundering and terrorism financing, the government asserts the need for a transparent investigation and judicial due process.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a swift and forceful response to allegations made by Binance CEO, Richard Teng, regarding bribery demands by Nigerian officials.
Teng's claims, published in a blog post on several international media platforms, alleged that unidentified Nigerian government officials sought $150 million in cryptocurrency payments to resolve an ongoing criminal investigation against Binance. In a statement released by Idris Mohammed, Minister of Information and National Orientation, the government condemned Teng's allegations as a "diversionary tactic" and "attempted act of blackmail."
Mohammed's statement, conveyed through his media aide Rabiu Ibrahim, emphasized the seriousness of the charges against Binance, including money laundering, terrorism financing, and foreign exchange manipulation. The government highlighted Binance founder Changpeng Zhao's recent legal troubles in the United States, including imprisonment and hefty fines, as evidence of the cryptocurrency firm's criminal conduct.
Furthermore, the government revealed that a Binance executive, under court-sanctioned protective custody, had fled the country and was now a fugitive from the law. Mohammed warned Binance against attempting to clear its name through "fictional claims and mudslinging media campaigns," urging the company to submit itself to a transparent investigation and judicial due process.
The statement concluded with a firm declaration that the Nigerian government would not succumb to any form of blackmail, whether local or foreign, and would continue to uphold the rule of law and international norms.
