In a statement published on Tuesday, Binance CEO Richard Teng claimed that during a meeting at the National Assembly Complex in January, representatives of Binance were asked for money by the House Committee on Financial Crimes, which is chaired by Ginger Onwusibe (LP, Abia).
According to the Federal Government, Binance’s claim of bribery is a ploy to divert attention away from their wrongdoings.
This was announced by Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja by his media assistant, Rabiu Ibrahim.
The minister stated that the Federal Government is aware of Binance’s efforts to dispel its damaged reputation as a company that flouts the laws and regulations governing conduct in business within sovereign states.
“The Organisation falsely accused unnamed Nigerian government officials of bribery and stated that they required the payment of $150 million in cryptocurrencies in order to end the company’s ongoing criminal probe.
“There is not the slightest substance to this Binance assertion. All it is is a desperate attempt at blackmail and a diversionary technique by a firm trying to hide the serious criminal charges it faces in Nigeria.
“An executive of Binance, who was under court-approved protective custody, fled Nigeria during this legal investigation and is currently at large.
“Working with the security agencies in Nigeria, Interpol is currently executing an international arrest warrant on the said fugitive.
“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,” Mr Idris said.
The minister recalled that, a week back, the founder and former CEO of Binance, Changpeng Zhao, was sentenced to prison in the United States after pleading guilty to similar charges to what Binance was being investigated for in Nigeria.
He added that Mr Zhao agreed to pay a fine of 50 million, while Binance is liable for 4.3 billion dollars in fines and forfeitures to the 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 itself to unobstructed investigation and judicial due process.
“The Federal Government will continue to act within its laws and international norms and will not succumb to any form of blackmail from any entity, local or foreign,” Mr Idris stressed. (NAN)
