Nigeria’s House of Representatives member Philip Agbese has filed a ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit against Tigran Gambaryan, an executive at Binance, over allegations that he and two other lawmakers sought a $150 million bribe.
The lawsuit, filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, claims that Gambaryan’s social media statements falsely linked Agbese to corruption, severely damaging his reputation.
According to a local news outlet, Agbese is seeking a declaration that Gambaryan’s statements were defamatory, an order preventing him from making further claims, and a public retraction of the allegations.
He also demands ₦1 billion in general damages and an additional ₦5 million to cover legal expenses.
The controversy stems from social media posts in which Gambaryan accused Agbese and two other legislators of attempting to secure a $150 million bribe through cryptocurrency transactions.
The claims quickly gained traction online and were widely reported by Nigerian media outlets, including Channels Television and Blueprint.
Agbese’s legal team, led by Barrister S. Ihensekhien, argues that the allegations are false, malicious, and damaging to the lawmaker’s reputation.
The lawsuit asserts that Agbese has never owned a cryptocurrency account or engaged in digital currency transactions.
In addition to financial compensation, the lawsuit demands that Gambaryan issue a public apology in at least three national newspapers and remove all social media posts containing the allegations.
The suit also seeks a court injunction to prevent further dissemination of the claims.
The Nigerian government has also intervened in the matter.
On February 14, 2025, the Minister of Information and National Orientation dismissed Gambaryan’s accusations, stating that no credible evidence had been presented to support them.
The government expressed concern over what it described as the spread of misinformation, particularly from people under legal scrutiny.
Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive specializing in financial crime compliance, was arrested in Nigeria in February 2024 on money laundering charges during a business trip.
His colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, managed to escape to Kenya, but Gambaryan remained detained at Kuje Correctional Center.
Binance has consistently denied wrongdoing and called for his release, arguing that he was not a company decision-maker.
The exchange also alleged that Nigerian officials requested a secret payment to resolve the issue, a claim the Nigerian government denies.
He initially faced both tax evasion and money laundering charges, but the tax charges were dropped, and he remained detained for alleged money laundering.
After months of diplomatic pressure, on October 23, 2024, a Nigerian court officially dropped all charges, allowing Gambaryan to return to the U.S. for medical treatment.
His detention led to severe health complications, including pneumonia, malaria, and a herniated disk that left him reliant on crutches.
Despite medical reports recommending surgery, his requests for medical attention were repeatedly denied.
The court ordered Gambaryan to pay a $2,000 fine for overstaying his visa before returning to the U.S.
Despite all these legal attacks, Binance continues to dispute these allegations and is engaging with Nigerian officials to resolve the matter.
Looking forward, the court has ordered Gambaryan to respond to its new lawsuit within eight days. Notices will be served through Nigerian media or his legal team.
If he fails to respond, the court may proceed in his absence.
The legal clash between Nigerian lawmaker Philip Agbese and Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan highlights tensions between politics and the crypto industry.
Agbese has filed a ₦1 billion defamation suit, asserting that false claims of a bribery attempt have harmed his public image.
Meanwhile, Gambaryan — previously cleared of money laundering charges — now faces another court challenge.
This dispute reflects Nigeria’s struggle to regulate cryptocurrencies while balancing innovation and accountability.
As the proceedings continue, the ruling may not only settle a personal dispute but also redefine accountability for both public figures and crypto companies, setting a precedent for how weighty online claims are addressed in a digital society.
