The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on the leadership of the House of Representatives led by Rt. Hon. Speaker Tajudeen Abass, to urgently investigate the serious allegations leveled against certain lawmakers by Tigran Gambaryan, Head of Financial Crime Compliance at cryptocurrency firm Binance. The allegations claim that three Nigerian lawmakers demanded a bribe of $150 million from Mr. Gambaryan during his detention in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society organization express deeply concerned by these allegations, as they strike at the heart of the integrity and credibility of the Nigerian legislative process.
Mr. Gambaryan, who spent eight months in a Nigerian detention facility over alleged corruption, accused three Nigerian lawmakers of demanding a bribe of $150 million from him during his detention. He named Philip Agbese, Ginger Onwusibe, and Peter Akpanke as the lawmakers involved.
According to Suraju, such serious accusations cannot be ignored or dismissed. “It is imperative that the House of Representatives conducts a swift, transparent, and unbiased investigation to ascertain the truth and hold any erring lawmakers accountable if found guilty.”
He added, “As an organization committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, HEDA believe that the House of Representatives has a duty to uphold these principles. The integrity of the entire assembly is at stake, and failure to address these allegations adequately will cast a shadow over the legislature’s commitment to good governance and anti-corruption efforts.
The anti-corruption group furthercall on the leadership of the House of Representatives to initiate an immediate investigation into the allegations made by Mr. Gambaryan and ensure that the investigation is conducted transparently and without bias.
“We are also urging the lawmakers to make the findings of the investigation public to maintain the trust of the Nigerian people. Take appropriate legal actions against any lawmakers found guilty of misconduct. Suraju added.
HEDA Resource Centre further stressed that it will not hesitate to file a complaint before the corruption agencies if the assembly fails to act within a reasonable time. The anti-corruption group reiterated its dedication to promoting transparency, the rule of law, and expressed its readiness to support a thorough investigation to uphold the principles of justice and accountability in Nigeria.
