The demand for the bribe allegedly came after a meeting with Nigerian lawmakers, although it is not clear if the lawmakers were directly involved in soliciting the bribe.
Binance executives have vehemently denied the allegations, stating that they will not be coerced into making illegal payments. The Nigerian government allegedly demanded a significant payment in cryptocurrency to resolve the issues within 48 hours.
Binance has indicated that it will not yield to the demand for payment and has been engaged in a legal battle with Nigeria since the arrest of one of its officials in February. The Nigerian government has accused Binance of economic sabotage, including driving down the value of the Nigerian naira.
The detained Binance official, Tigran Gambaryan, is facing charges in a federal court in Abuja, while his family is seeking assistance from U.S. authorities to secure his release. The Nigerian parliament has launched a committee to investigate the charges against Binance, but declined to comment on the matter.
Overall, the article highlights the allegations of bribery and the legal battle between Binance and the Nigerian government over fraud charges and economic sabotage claims.
