Richard Teng, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Binance, has accused certain Nigerian government officials of soliciting a bribe from the company to halt their investigation. Teng revealed this in a blog post on Tuesday, detailing a meeting held on January 8 in Abuja, where Binance was accused of criminal activities related to illegal operations and foreign exchange rate manipulations in Nigeria.
Following the meeting with Nigerian authorities, Teng claimed that unidentified individuals, purportedly representing government officials, approached Binance and suggested making a payment to settle the allegations within 48 hours. However, Binance rejected the offer through their legal counsel, insisting on an official resolution of all pending issues.
Despite multiple requests, Teng stated that Binance has yet to receive specific details of the allegations. The organization sought to submit written responses, citing the sensitivity of the information and the need for thorough preparation.
Teng recounted that after the meeting, Binance’s employees were approached by unknown individuals who proposed a secret cryptocurrency payment to resolve the allegations. Subsequently, Binance’s local counsel was summoned and instructed to convey the terms to the company.
However, Binance declined the payment request through its legal representative, considering it illegitimate. Teng emphasized that any settlement negotiations must involve a transparent process, with all allegations disclosed and agreements documented in writing and signed by all parties involved.
