Richard Teng, CEO of cryptocurrency giant Binance, has alleged that “faceless” Nigerian government officials demanded a whopping $150 million in cryptocurrency bribes to drop the ongoing money laundering, tax evasion, and terrorism financing lawsuit against the company.
Teng’s bombshell claim has sparked outrage and disbelief, with the Nigerian government swiftly denying any wrongdoing and daring Teng to name the officials involved.
Teng made his revelation in a blog post, stating that a local attorney working for Binance was approached by a person posing as a representative of the House Committee, demanding a “significant payment in cryptocurrency to be paid in secret within 48 hours to make these issues go away.”
Teng asserted that Binance declined the payment demand, viewing it as an illegitimate settlement offer.
Name and shame
However, Nigerian prosecutors have rubbished Teng’s allegations, with Ekele Iheanacho, a prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, stating, “Nobody demanded any money… The case is being taken to a logical conclusion. He is making it up.”
Another top official in the Office of the National Security Adviser queried, “Did he mention a name? Since he didn’t mention a name, why should anyone be worried?”
Analysts believe that Teng’s failure to disclose the identity of the person who approached his team has put him in a tight spot. “If someone would say something like this, he should have the capacity to mention the people. It’s not worth our time; anybody can say anything, but as long as they can’t substantiate it, it’s a waste of time. He should mention names; if not, all he’s saying is rubbish,” a top EFCC chief told the Punch newspaper.
Diversionary tactic
The Nigerian government has released a statement dismissing Teng’s allegations as a “diversionary tactic” and an “attempted act of blackmail” by a company desperate to obfuscate the criminal charges it is facing.
The government has vowed to continue investigating Binance, stating that the only way to resolve the issues is through unobstructed investigation and judicial due process.
As the legal battle between Binance and Nigeria intensifies, the stakes are high, and the outcome will have far-reaching implications for both parties. Will Teng’s allegations prove to be a game-changer, or will they be dismissed as a desperate attempt to deflect attention from Binance’s legal troubles? Only time will tell.
The Federal Government of Nigeria in a released statement, signed by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and National Orientation firmly affirmed they were aware of attempts by Binance to launder its impaired image as an organisation that does not play by the rules and laws guiding business conduct in sovereign nations.
The statement further added that “This claim by Binance CEO lacks any iota of substance. It is nothing but a diversionary tactic and an attempted act of blackmail by a company desperate to obfuscate the grievous criminal charges it is facing in Nigeria.”
Nigeria further strengthens its case by pointing to the recent conviction of Binance’s founder, Changpeng Zhao, in the United States on similar charges.
They argue that this conviction is a clear precedent and demonstrates a pattern of criminal behavior by Binance’s leadership.
As the drama continues, one thing is clear: the relationship between Nigeria and Binance is already fractured.
Many are waiting to see if Teng’s allegations will prove to be a game-changer, or will they be dismissed as a desperate attempt to deflect attention from Binance’s legal troubles?
Experts have advised that though the Nigerian government has denied any wrongdoing, it must, however, beam its searchlight on any officials trying to frustrate and undermine the successful prosecution of Binance.
Richard Teng’s allegation might be cooked, but Nigeria must continue to prove him wrong as the case continues to take different twists and dimensions.
