Tigran Gambaryan, the former Head of Crime Compliance at Binance, has launched a blistering attack on Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, accusing him of tarnishing the country’s reputation on the international stage.
Gambaryan alleged that Ribadu’s “asshole” actions were responsible for former U.S. President Joe Biden’s refusal to meet with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu during the last United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Taking to X, the former Binance executive further claimed that Ribadu not only humiliated Nigeria before former U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan but also created an international debacle by overestimating his influence.
In his post, Gambaryan wrote:
“Ribadu even hired a US law firm to negotiate my release, but this failed due to their incompetence and greed.
“Ribadu overstepped his authority and embarrassed Nigeria in front of US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
“Ribadu acting like an asshole angered the White House and led to diplomatic repercussions — the US limited visas to the Nigerian delegation for UNGA, and Biden refused to meet with Tinubu until my situation was resolved.
“In the end, Ribadu overestimated his influence. They thought they could secure a quick win, but instead, they created an international incident, exposing his incompetence on a global scale.
“That’s it for me for now. I don’t want to dwell on this, but it’s important for Nigerians to get the facts. I met amazing people in Nigeria. It’s a shame that these muppets are in charge.”
Gambaryan’s ordeal in Nigeria began in 2024 when he endured a grueling eight-month detention after being arrested for alleged money laundering.
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His arrest came amid a standoff between the Nigerian government and Binance, following claims by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Olayemi Cardoso that a staggering $26 billion had flowed through the cryptocurrency platform without a trace.
The government’s crackdown on digital currencies saw the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraign Binance and Gambaryan in April 2024 on money laundering charges.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, the Federal Government withdrew the charges against Gambaryan in October 2024, bringing an end to his legal battle in Nigeria.