Business

FG Dismisses Gambaryan’s ‘False Allegations,’ Says Binance Offered $5m Payment

Published

2 months ago

February 15, 2025

The Federal Government on Friday dismissed the claims by Binance’s Head of Financial Crime, Tigran Gambaryan, who spent eight months in a Nigerian detention facility over alleged corruption.

Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen, was recently tried in Nigeria for financial crimes. He was released by the Nigerian authorities following intervention by the United States government.

In a post on X, he claimed that his unlawful arrest by the Nigerian government made former US President Joe Biden avoid a meeting he planned to have with President Bola Tinubu during the 2024 UN General Assembly (UNGA).

He blamed National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu for the situation and said the US government also reduced the size of the Nigerian delegation that could attend the annual global assembly.

The Binance executive also identified three Nigerian lawmakers who allegedly demanded a bribe of $150m from him.

However, the Federal Government urged the public to disregard the allegations entirely.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described Gambaryan’s claims as a deliberate misinformation campaign.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria notes with concern the outrageous allegations, misinformation, and defamatory statements being disseminated by Tigran Gambaryan, an American personnel of Binance who was recently tried in Nigeria for financial crimes,” the statement read.

“The government rejected Binance’s offer of a $5 million down payment in exchange for Mr. Gambaryan’s freedom, in favour of a more beneficial settlement with the American government.”

Idris said the government stated that it was compelled to set the record straight to prevent falsehoods from gaining traction.

The minister also addressed Gambaryan’s claims of bribery attempt, stressing that his initial visit to Nigeria was entirely discretionary and not sanctioned by any government entity.

According to him, an investigation was promptly initiated after the alleged incident was brought to the government’s attention.

“The first visit by Mr. Gambaryan and his colleagues to Nigeria was discretional on their part and the government was not officially involved.

“However, when the attention of the government was called to an alleged bribery demand during that trip, an investigation was immediately opened into it though there was no formal complaint by anyone,” he stated.

The Federal Government detained Gambaryan and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, a 37-year-old British Kenyan who serves as the regional manager for Africa at Binance.

Both were charged with money laundering involving $35 million, as initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Anjarwalla managed to escape from custody on March 22, 2024.

Business

Woman demands $250,000 from Promasidor over son’s death at factory

A few hours after reporting to the factory, Patrick reportedly fell from a rooftop into a warehouse and died.

Published

3 hours ago

April 30, 2025

OhiBaba

• Patrick Ogbu

One Mrs Susan Ogbu has filed a $250,000 lawsuit against Promasidor Nigeria Ltd.; its parent company, Promasidor Holdings; and several others over the death of her 26-year-old son, Patrick Ogbu.

The suit, filed at the National Industrial Court in Lagos, alleged gross negligence and unsafe work practices.

Other defendants named in the case are Mr Dapo Omolade (operating under the Dapo Omolade Empowerment Initiatives), Hybrid Group Limited, Hybrid HSE Limited, Bohlar Integrated Services, and the Minister of Labour and Employment.

In the suit marked NICN/LA/361/2024, Mrs. Ogbu, through her counsel David Kupolati, is demanding N300 million in compensation, and N150 million in general damages from the defendants, citing wrongful death due to negligence.

She is also seeking a court order for a 21 per cent annual interest on the judgment sum until it is fully paid, along with N5 million, in legal costs.

Patrick Ogbu joined the HSE trainee program operated by Omolade and Hybrid Group on April 1, 2024, under an offer letter dated March 4, 2024.

The program promised technical skills training in health and safety and offered a monthly stipend of N65,000.

According to the claimant, her son, Patrick was, on August 9, 2024 assigned to Promasidor Nigeria’s factory through an arrangement between Bohlar Integrated Services and Promasidor.

A few hours after reporting to the factory, Patrick reportedly fell from a rooftop into a warehouse and died.

“Sadly a few hours after the claimant’s son left home to resume work at the Promasidor (fifth defendant) project site, she received the sad news that her son had fallen from the factory rooftop into the warehouse and died almost immediately.

“The unfortunate, sad and premature death of her son arose due to the gross negligence and unsafe practices of Dapo Omolade, Hybrid Group, Hybrid HSE Limited, Bohlar Integrated Services and Promasidor Nigeria,” she said.

His mother blamed the accident on the “gross negligence and unsafe work conditions” at the site, attributing responsibility to all the defendants.

Mrs Ogbu is also requesting that the court compel the Minister of Labour and Employment to investigate the operations of the DOME initiative and impose sanctions on all responsible parties.

She further seeks an order for a full health and safety audit of Promasidor’s factories and a formal inquiry into the company’s labour practices across Lagos and Ogun states.

Source: PUNCH

Business

BREAKING: Bank customers to pay N6 per SMS transaction alert starting tomorrow

Published

5 hours ago

April 30, 2025

Charles Flames

Commercial banks in Nigeria, including Guaranty Trust Bank customers will commence payment of N6 for every SMS transaction alert starting tomorrow.

This is coming on the heels of the increase in telecommunications rates by telecommunications providers following a nod by the federal government.

The SMS charges were increased by 50% to N6 from the previous N4 per message.

Various banks had sent emails to their customers to inform them of the current change.

An email from Guaranty Trust Bank Limited with the heading “Increase in SMS Transaction Alert Fee” read:

“Dear Valued Customer, Please be informed that effective Thursday, May 1, 2025, the SMS transaction alert fee will increase from N4 to N6 per message.

This adjustment is due to a recent increase in telecom rates as communicated by the telecommunication service providers.

“Kindly note that transaction alerts are important and help you keep track and stay in control of activities on your account.

“SMS alerts to international phone numbers are subject to higher charges.”

Business

NNPC Sacks 200 Mele Kyari’s Loyalists

Those departing immediately are Bala Wunti, former chief of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), and Ibrahim Onoja, managing director of the Kaduna Refinery.

Published

9 hours ago

April 30, 2025

OhiBaba

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has appointed Maryam Idrisu as Managing Director of NNPC Trading and Obioma Abangwu as Chief Liaison Officer for Board Matters.

This followed the reported sack of over 200 staff, including loyalists of the former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Mele Kyari.

BusinessDay reported that those departing immediately are Bala Wunti, former chief of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), and Ibrahim Onoja, managing director of the Kaduna Refinery.

Also asked to leave is Lawal Sade, the Chief Compliance Officer and former Managing Director of NNPC Trading.

It was gathered that over 200 employees have been impacted, marking the beginning of what may be a series of staff changes.