Business
BRIBERY ALLEGATIONS: Provide evidence in seven days or face legal action — Lawmaker tells Binance executive

Philip Agbese, a member of the house of representatives, has denied a bribery allegation against him by an executive of Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan.In a post published on X on Friday, Gambaryan recounted his experiences in the hands of some Nigerian lawmakers.
Gambaryan claimed three lawmakers, including Peter Akpanke, and Agbese demanded a $150 million bribe in cryptocurrency payment into their personal wallets.
The Binance executive, however, failed to provide any evidence to support his claims.
In a statement issued on Friday, Agbese said he was not a member of the committee and never demanded a bribe from Binance.
“I am outraged by the false allegations made by Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of the controversial crypto firm Binance, claiming that I was among those who demanded a $150 million bribe from him,” the statement reads.
These allegations are false. I was not part of any meeting with any Binance executive regarding money for any purpose.
“The leadership of the committee took the matter to court, and Binance has already apologized.
“Let it be on record that I am not a member of the Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes. I visited my colleague, Hon. Peter Ankpanke, in his office, where he was meeting with some visitors about an activity of his Committee, with Hon. Peter Anakwe, a member of the Committee present.
We exchanged pleasantries and, in character with my person as an avid pursuer of knowledge, discussed Binance’s activities that did not include any demand from anyone.
“It was during this visit to the office of Hon. Peter Ankpanke, with Hon. Peter Anekwe present, that he told me they were interfacing with Binance Team from abroad over a referral to their Committee.
What transpired between the two of them and the Binance executive after I left the office is left to them.
I never saw those visitors again after that chance meeting and did not afterwards attend any meeting with Binance executives, the EFCC, or the DSS.
“I am aware that when this issue was first raised, the Chairman of the Committee went to court and Binance apologised. So, all inquiries should be directed to the Committee, not to Hon. Philip Agbese.”
Agbese noted that he has never been involved in any cryptocurrency trading and does not have a crypto wallet so he could not have asked for funds to be credited to a “non-existent wallet”.
Agbese urged Gambaryan to either publish any evidence linking him to the bribery accusation or apologize within seven days, or face legal action.
Read the full statement below:
“I am outraged by the false allegations made by Tigran Gambaryan, an executive of the controversial crypto firm Binance, claiming that I was among those who demanded a $150 million bribe from him.
These allegations are false. I was not part of any meeting with any Binance executive regarding money for any purpose.
The leadership of the Committee took the matter to court, and Binance has already apologized.
“Let it be on record that I am not a member of the Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes. I visited my colleague, Hon. Peter Ankpanke, in his office, where he was meeting with some visitors about an activity of his Committee, with Hon. Peter Anakwe, a member of the Committee present. We exchanged pleasantries and, in character with my person as an avid pursuer of knowledge, discussed Binance’s activities that did not include any demand from anyone.
“It was during this visit to the office of Hon. Peter Ankpanke, with Hon. Peter Anekwe present, that he told me they were interfacing with Binance Team from abroad over a referral to their Committee.
What transpired between the two of them and the Binance executive after I left the office is left to them. I never saw those visitors again after that chance meeting and did not afterwards attend any meeting with Binance executives, the EFCC, or the DSS.
“I am aware that when this issue was first raised, the Chairman of the Committee went to court and Binance apologised.
So, all inquiries should be directed to the Committee, not to Hon. Philip Agbese.
“I have never used any cryptocurrency as I do not have a crypto wallet anywhere in the world, so I could not have asked for funds to be credited to a non-existent wallet.
Gambaryan and his associate, who escaped from prison, should return to the EFCC and defend themselves. Instead of trying to implicate me, they should focus on addressing the allegations against them.
As a consequence of the foregoing, I demand that Tigran Gambaryan publishes any evidence that links Hon. Philip Agbese to the issue. The man has spewed many other lies in his report about the government demanding information on opposition elements and other outrageous claims.
I further demand that, failing to provide evidence as stated, Tigran Gambaryan must cause a retraction of his malicious claims and publication and apologise to me within the next 7 days or face legal action from my lawyers.
This is not the first allegation against me by a foreign entity.
The first was that I work for the past government and the Armed Forces to promote Nigeria’s agenda, which shows the extent of desperation by entities that are interested in undermining public office holders they perceive as nationalistic.
Business
Elumelu Abruptly Ends UNGA Visit Following Afriland Tower Fire

The Chairman of Afriland Properties Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu, has abruptly ended his trip to New York for the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) following a devastating fire at Afriland Towers in Lagos that claimed the lives of several staff members.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Elumelu expressed profound sorrow over the incident, describing the loss as heartbreaking for the Afriland family.
He wrote, “I am shattered by yesterday’s devastating incident at Afriland Towers, that took the lives of our dear colleagues. No words can capture the magnitude of this loss – not for their families who loved them, not for the friends who valued them, and not for those of us who worked beside them.”
Elumelu revealed that he was en route to New York when he received news of the tragedy, prompting his immediate return to Lagos as a mark of respect to the departed staff.
“As we navigate this grief, I urge you all to reach out to those who are receiving care. In the coming days, we will convene colleagues in a memorial to honour the memories of the departed, as we provide support to their families,” he added.
He also thanked emergency responders, first aid workers, and members of the public for their swift and compassionate response to the disaster.
To honour the victims, a minute of silence will be observed at 12:00 noon on Wednesday across all companies within the Tony Elumelu Group.
Business
CBN Mandates Banks to Announce Successor MD Three Months Ahead
The CBN warned that leadership uncertainty at large banks could destabilise the entire financial sector and damage the wider economy.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a new directive mandating all Domestic Systemically Important Banks (DSIBs) to publicly announce the appointment of a new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) at least three months before the scheduled exit of the incumbent.
In a circular signed by Dr Rita Sike, Director of Financial Policy and Regulation, and published on the CBN’s website, the bank stated that the new rules apply to Domestic Systemically Important Banks (DSIBs) – the largest lenders that are considered “too big to fail” because of their size and importance to Nigeria’s financial system.“
Consequently, and in line with good corporate governance practice, each DSIB is hereby required to: ensure it obtains regulatory approval for the appointment of a successor Managing Director not later than six months to the expiration of the tenor of the incumbent MD/CEO,” the circular stated.
Banks must also “publicly announce the appointment of the successor MD/CEO not later than three months to the planned exit of the incumbent MD/CEO.”
Whilst stating that the move is part of broader efforts to strengthen corporate governance and maintain confidence in the financial system, the CBN warned that leadership uncertainty at large banks could destabilise the entire financial sector and damage the wider economy.
Business
Nigeria is gradually regaining macroeconomic stability – CPPE
Dr Yusuf listed food and alcoholic beverages, restaurants and accommodation services, as well as transport and high energy costs, as key drivers of inflation in the country.

Dr Muda Yusuf, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) ,Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), declared that Nigeria is gradually regaining macroeconomic stability.
He referenced the downward trend of headline inflation rate for the fifth consecutive month, reaching 20.12 percent in August 2025 from July’s 21.88 percent.
Dr Yusuf made the above comments in response to the data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for the period under review .
Dr Yusuf listed food and alcoholic beverages, restaurants and accommodation services, as well as transport and high energy costs, as key drivers of inflation in the country.
According to Yusuf the 20.12 percent recorded in August represents a notable 1.76 percentage point decline from July’s 21.88 per cent.
Month-on-month inflation also slowed sharply, with prices rising by just 0.74 percent in August compared to 1.99 per cent in July.
“However, consumer confidence remains fragile due to persistently high food prices and weak purchasing power. Despite this, consumer pessimism is gradually easing, suggesting that households are beginning to adjust their expectations as inflation slows.
“Several factors have contributed to the continued deceleration in inflation, including base effects from the unusually high inflation rates recorded in 2024, FX stabilisation and improved agricultural production from sub-national government interventions, which have helped boost food supply and contain price spikes,” he said.
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