According to the Daily Post Newspaper, Tigran Gambaryan, a former executive overseeing financial compliance at Binance, has openly criticized Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for allegedly tarnishing the country’s reputation on the international stage.
Gambaryan alleged that Ribadu’s actions were responsible for preventing a potential meeting between former U.S. President Joe Biden and Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu during the most recent United Nations General Assembly.
Sharing his grievances via a post on X, Gambaryan accused Ribadu of causing diplomatic embarrassment for Nigeria in front of former U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
He further claimed that Ribadu misjudged his global influence, resulting in significant diplomatic setbacks. Gambaryan revealed that Ribadu even engaged a U.S. law firm to negotiate his release, but the effort collapsed due to what he described as greed and ineptitude.
According to Gambaryan, Ribadu’s missteps triggered an international controversy that angered the White House, leading the U.S. to impose visa restrictions on Nigeria’s UNGA delegation. He added that Biden's decision not to meet Tinubu hinged on resolving his ongoing detention.
"Ribadu’s reckless actions angered U.S. officials, prompting diplomatic consequences — including restrictions on visas for the Nigerian team attending UNGA — and Biden’s refusal to engage with Tinubu until my situation was resolved," he wrote.
"In the end, Ribadu overplayed his hand. He expected a swift, easy resolution, but instead sparked a diplomatic incident that exposed his lack of competence on a global stage," he added.
Looking back on the situation, Gambaryan stated that Ribadu’s overconfidence ultimately resulted in international embarrassment for Nigeria, as his attempts to assert influence only revealed his shortcomings.
In 2024, Gambaryan endured an eight-month detention in Nigeria following his arrest over allegations of money laundering.
Tensions between Binance and Nigerian authorities intensified after the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, alleged that $26 billion had moved through the crypto platform without adequate regulatory checks.
By April 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed charges against both Binance and Gambaryan for alleged money laundering activities.
However, reports later indicated that by October 2024, the Nigerian government had withdrawn the charges against him, effectively ending his legal ordeal.
Hear him speak: "They even threatened administrators at Nizamiya Hospital, instructing them not to admit me when I was extremely ill. Additionally, they pressured the hospital to withhold my medical records from my attorneys. This was later confirmed by the Turkish Ministry of Health when my friend met with their officials in Turkey.