Abuja, Nigeria – Philip Agbese, a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and vice spokesperson for the chamber, has initiated a defamation lawsuit against Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance Holdings Limited executive.
This lawsuit, filed at a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, seeks N1.5 billion in damages.
The suit arises from allegations Gambaryan made on social media.
Last Friday, Gambaryan accused three Nigerian lawmakers, including Agbese and Peter Akpanke, of soliciting a $150 million bribe in cryptocurrency.
He stated that the alleged request involved transferring funds into cryptocurrency wallets tied to the lawmakers.
These serious claims spurred Agbese to take legal action.
In response to these allegations, Agbese firmly denied any wrongdoing.
He asserted that he has never engaged in cryptocurrency trading and does not own a crypto wallet.
“I could not have asked for funds to be credited to a non-existent wallet,” he stated, highlighting the falsehood of the claims against him.
Legal Action Initiated After Allegations Persist
Agbese issued a seven-day ultimatum for Gambaryan to present evidence for his claims, apologize, or face legal action.
Less than three days later, Agbese took legal action against him.
This lawsuit aims to stop Gambaryan and his associates from making further defamatory statements and demands a retraction of the allegations.
On Monday, February 17, 2025, Agbese issued a statement explaining why he approached the court before the seven days expired.
He stated, “Three days after my deadline and after carefully analyzing his baseless claims—lacking both common sense and logic—I have initiated legal proceedings against Gambaryan.”
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The lawmaker stressed that his reputation is on the line as a public servant and as a Nigerian citizen.
He noted, “I had to seek legal recourse because my reputation as a citizen, a distinguished congressman, and my country’s image are at risk.”
If I failed to act today, posterity, my children, and future generations would not forgive me,” he added.
Call for Accountability
Agbese criticized Gambaryan’s subsequent refusal to engage further on the matter, citing personal reasons.
“The accuser, who made these false statements, has instead chosen to say he would like to be excused from making further comments on the issue because he wants to spend more time with his family,” Agbese said.
“This is totally wrong. I am an African and have a larger family and more loved ones to stay with than Gambaryan.”
The lawmaker insisted that Gambaryan must substantiate his claims in court or face the consequences of defamation.
“He must come to court to prove his allegations or be ready to pay the compensation I have demanded,” Agbese stated firmly.
A Broader Message Against Falsehood
Agbese also framed the lawsuit as a broader effort to deter others from making baseless accusations.
“This is not about the billions that may come at the end of the day from Gambaryan but about serving as a deterrent to others who think falsehood is a strategy for escaping accountability for their crimes against our country and humanity,” he said.
As of now, there has been no official response from Tigran Gambaryan or Binance Holdings Limited regarding the lawsuit.
The case marks a significant development in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to address issues of integrity and accountability among public officials while also highlighting the growing intersection of cryptocurrency and governance in the country.
