By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian government has refuted an allegation of bribery levelled against it by the chief executive of Binance, Mr Richard Teng, that government officials demanded a $150 million bribe to settle the issue facing the organisation in the country.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, in a statement issued by his Media Aide, Mr Rabiu Ibrahim, on Wednesday in Abuja said the federal government is aware of attempts by Binance to launder its impaired image as a company that does not play by the rules and laws guiding business conduct in sovereign nations.
“The organisation made false allegations of bribery against unidentified Nigerian government officials, who it claimed demanded 150 million dollars in cryptocurrency payments to resolve the ongoing criminal investigation against the company.
“This claim by Binance lacks any iota of substance. It is nothing but a diversionary tactic and an attempted act of blackmail by a company desperate to obfuscate the grievous criminal charges it is facing in Nigeria.
“While this lawful investigation was going on, an executive of Binance, who was in court-sanctioned protective custody, escaped from Nigeria, and he is now a fugitive from the law.
“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, Mr 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 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.