- According to Binance, the payment was demanded by some Nigerian government officials.
- Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, denied the allegations.
The government of Nigeria has spoken out against the bribery allegations made by cryptocurrency exchange Binance, saying that the charges are baseless and an attempt by Binance to get publicity.
In response to claims made by Binance CEO Richard Teng—that some Nigerian authorities wanted $150 million in crypto to resolve the company’s continuing legal issues—the federal government has declared its disapproval.
Struggle Continues
According to Binance, the payment was demanded by some Nigerian government officials in order to resolve the allegations that were launched against the firm. But Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, denied the allegations.
Moreover, Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant to the Minister, issued a statement on Wednesday calling the allegations “diversionary” and describing them as an attempt at extortion to derail the criminal investigations against Binance in Nigeria.
Furthermore, the government is reportedly looking into allegations that Binance helped fund terrorists, launder money, and manipulate currency exchange rates. Also, a high-ranking official of Binance, who was in protective custody in Nigeria, escaped and is now sought by Interpol, according to the authorities.
According to Nigerian officials, the crypto exchange is being targeted by bribery claims, which they claim are part of a larger international conspiracy to discredit their government. Also, the statement emphasized that the cryptocurrency exchange, which is facing criminal charges and investigations in the US, is trying to clear its name in Nigeria by spreading false accusations and defamation in the media.
In a recent US development, the government referenced a case in which Binance’s founder and former CEO was sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to some of the crimes investigated in Nigeria.
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