In a recent statement, Nigerian political commentator Reno Omokri has vehemently refuted allegations made by Tigran Gambaryan against Malam Nuhu Ribadu and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Omokri contends that these claims are a strategic diversion intended to shift public attention away from recent revelations concerning the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allegedly funding Boko Haram.
Omokri highlights the suspicious timing of Gambaryan’s allegations, noting that they surfaced precisely one hour after U.S. Congressman Scott Perry disclosed that high-ranking U.S. officials had been financing Boko Haram. “Discerning Nigerians may have noticed that Mr. Gambaryan made his wild allegations precisely an hour after Republican U.S. Congressman Scott Perry revealed that certain U.S. high officials had been funding Boko Haram,” Omokri stated.
Tigran Gambaryan, formerly a prominent investigator at Binance and an ex-special agent with the IRS-CI, was detained by Nigerian authorities in early 2024 under contentious circumstances. Initially invited to Nigeria to address conflicts between Binance and the Nigerian government, Gambaryan and his colleague Nadeem Anjarwalla were soon accused of contributing to Nigeria’s economic instability. The situation escalated with demands for substantial sums of money and complete data on Nigerian Binance users. After a series of controversial negotiations and a failed escape attempt, Gambaryan was imprisoned in Kuje Prison, facing severe health issues, including a near-fatal case of pneumonia and a herniated disc. Following significant pressure from the U.S. government and international efforts, he was released in late 2024. Despite enduring months in dire conditions and a lengthy legal ordeal, Gambaryan returned home, deeply impacted by the experience and intent on seeking justice against those responsible for his detention.
Omokri suggests that Gambaryan’s actions are influenced by entities involved in economic sabotage against Nigeria, alleging that these groups provided platforms to siphon $25 billion out of the country annually. He points to the significant appreciation of the Naira following the government’s delisting of Binance as evidence of the platform’s detrimental impact on Nigeria’s economy. “Nigerians may also recall that after Binance was delisted by the government and ceased operating in Nigeria, the Naira rose sharply, appreciating by 36.4% in one day,” Omokri remarked.
The allegations against USAID stem from claims that the agency made multimillion-dollar annual payments to Boko Haram during a period when the U.S. government was withholding military support from Nigeria. Congressman Perry has been vocal about these accusations, suggesting that certain interests were funding terrorism in Nigeria through USAID. Omokri emphasizes that Gambaryan’s allegations are a deliberate distraction from these serious claims, stating, “This is a typical distraction strategy, and Nigeria should not fall for it. The swamp is desperate and, therefore, clutching at straws.”
Malam Nuhu Ribadu, currently serving as the National Security Adviser, has a longstanding reputation for integrity. As the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ribadu notably refused a $15 million cash bribe in 2006, choosing instead to deposit the funds into the Central Bank of Nigeria. Omokri contrasts Ribadu’s record with Gambaryan’s alleged actions, portraying the latter as an economic saboteur working against Nigeria’s interests. “Malam Nuhu Ribadu is an incorruptible leader… Tigran Gambaryan is an allegedly corrupt economic saboteur who worked against Nigeria’s economic interests,” Omokri asserted.
In light of these events, Omokri urges Nigerians to critically assess the motivations behind Gambaryan’s allegations and to recognize them as an attempt to divert attention from the more pressing issue of alleged terror funding by foreign entities. He concludes by framing the situation as a battle against corruption, stating, “This is a pure case of corruption fighting back!”
