Tinubu govt extorted $50 million from U.S. to release me: Ex-Binance Executive
Tigran Gambaryan, a former Binance employee and ex-U.S. federal agent, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s administration extorted $50 million from the Joe Biden administration as ransom for his release from detention in Nigeria.
Mr Gambaryan made the revelation in a post on X on Saturday, thanking his former employer, Binance, for speaking out about his ordeal.
“Thanks @cz_binance. Then they bragged about extorting the Biden administration out of $50 million to release me. @realDonaldTrump @WhiteHouse @RepMcCormick @RepFrenchHill,” Mr Gambaryan stated.
His post was in response to an earlier statement by Binance founder, Changpeng Zhao, who accused the Nigerian government of unlawfully detaining Mr Gambaryan for eight months.
The development came shortly after President Donald Trump threatened to sanction Nigeria and launch a military attack targeting violent non-state actors in the northern region of the country.
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Mr Trump said. “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”
The Nigerian government has yet to respond to Mr Gambaryan’s claim.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
World
Henri Kagan, Kenso Soai win Nobel chemistry prize
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai.
Lagos
Passenger on board Kenya Airways Lagos-bound flight dies
A passenger on board a Kenya Airways flight from Nairobi to Lagos on Tuesday died after being unresponsive for 20 minutes before the plane landed.
Lagos
LASTMA arrests truck driver after casualties recorded in multiple-vehicle crash
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority have apprehended a truck driver following a multiple-vehicle crash that critically injured four persons.
Politics
Tinubu hails Indian PM Modi for 25 years in political power
Mr Tinubu said the “quarter-century of unbroken leadership” testified to the confidence Indians placed in Mr Modi’s ability to deliver efficient governance.
Politics
Makinde-Daura group inaugurates presidential campaign committee
The Makinde-Daura group inaugurated its National Campaign Management Committee, emphasising grassroots mobilisation to win the majority of Nigeria’s 103 million registered voters.
Economy
Tinubu govt offers 40 oil blocks as Nigeria 2026 licensing round opens
The federal government has inaugurated the 2026 oil and gas licensing round, offering 40 blocks across land, shallow water and deepwater terrains to local and foreign investors.
