- The Nigerian government has refuted allegations of bribery made by cryptocurrency company Binance, terming them as diversionary and unfounded.
- These allegations come amidst ongoing investigations into Binance’s involvement in money laundering and terrorism financing.
- The government’s dismissal of these claims highlights the escalating tension between regulatory authorities and cryptocurrency companies.
The Nigerian government denies Binance’s bribery allegations, terming them as diversionary tactics amidst ongoing investigations into money laundering and terrorism financing.
Nigeria Dismisses Binance’s Bribery Claims
The Nigerian government has strongly refuted Binance’s bribery accusations, asserting that these claims are without any foundation and are just a ploy by the cryptocurrency company. The federal government announced that it disregards the allegations released by Binance’s CEO, Richard Teng, that some Nigerian officials demanded a $150 million cryptocurrency payment from the company to settle the ongoing legal issues.
Binance’s Allegations and Government Response
Binance claims that some Nigerian government officials demanded the bribe for the charges filed against the company to be settled. Nevertheless, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed these accusations as false. In a statement made on Wednesday, Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant to the Minister, termed the claims “diversionary” and cited them as blackmail meant to obfuscate the criminal investigations into Binance in Nigeria.
Ongoing Investigations into Binance
The government is said to be investigating Binance for facilitating illegal activities such as money laundering, terrorism financing, and foreign exchange manipulation. The government also revealed that a high-ranking Binance executive who was in protective custody had fled Nigeria and was now wanted by Interpol.
Conclusion
The Nigerian government’s dismissal of Binance’s bribery allegations underscores the growing tension between regulatory authorities and cryptocurrency companies. As investigations into Binance’s alleged illegal activities continue, it remains to be seen how this will impact the broader cryptocurrency market and regulatory landscape.
