Politics

Binance CEO Leaves Nigeria Following Withdrawal of Money Laundering Charges by the Federal Government

Published

2 years ago

October 25, 2024

Tigran Gambaryan, the Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, has departed Nigeria just days after the Federal Government dropped money laundering charges against him. The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange announced his departure in a statement on Thursday, October 24.

“Today, American citizen Tigran Gambaryan left Nigeria to return home to his family after eight months of unlawful detention,” the statement read. “Gambaryan was released from Kuje prison last night. His health has significantly deteriorated during his imprisonment, and he can now receive the medical attention he urgently needs.”

Earlier reports from Bush Radio indicated that a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the money laundering charges brought against Gambaryan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday. The EFCC noted that the case could not proceed due to Gambaryan’s declining health, with the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Office of the National Security Adviser confirming that his condition had worsened to the point where he struggled to walk without a wheelchair.

In response to the dismissal of the charges and her husband’s departure, Gambaryan’s wife, Yuki, expressed her relief in a statement. “It is a huge relief that this day has finally come. The past eight months have been a living nightmare. I wish it hadn’t taken this long for his release or that his health had not declined so much, but we can now focus on healing as a family.”

She expressed gratitude to the US government for their efforts in securing her husband’s release and thanked those who supported them during this challenging time. “There were moments I feared this day would never come, but Tigran’s supporters gave me hope and strength. The road ahead for Tigran’s recovery is going to be difficult, and I appreciate being given the time and space to focus on that. Our children cannot wait to see their dad again,” she stated.

In February, Nigerian authorities detained Gambaryan and his colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla, the regional manager for Africa at Binance. Both faced money laundering charges involving $35 million initiated by the EFCC. While Anjarwalla escaped custody on March 22, 2024, Gambaryan was arraigned in court on April 8.

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Full List Of Nigerian Ministers Who Were Sacked, Resigned Since 1999

Published

4 hours ago

September 9, 2026

NivoNews

Nigeria’s Fourth Republic has experienced numerous high-profile cabinet reshuffles, dismissals, and forced resignations across successive administrations since 1999. Because departures often blur the line between formal terminations, voluntary resignations, and forced exits, there is no single definitive number of ministers who have been sacked.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Obasanjo Administration (1999–2007)

Hussaini Akwanga (Labour Minister): Sacked by President Olusegun Obasanjo in December 2003 due to allegations tied to a controversial national identity card contract awarded to SAGEM.
Fabian Osuji (Education Minister): Dismissed in March 2005 following allegations that ₦55 million was offered to National Assembly members regarding the ministry’s budget.
Alice Mobolaji Osomo (Housing Minister): Sacked weeks after Osuji’s removal over controversy regarding the allocation and proposed sale of over 200 Federal Government properties in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Yar’Adua Administration (2007–2010)

Adenike Grange (Health Minister) & Gabriel Aduku (Minister of State for Health): Resigned in March 2008 amid investigations into about ₦300 million in unspent 2007 budget funds, having effectively been given the option to resign or face dismissal.

The Jonathan Administration (2010–2015)

Michael Aondoakaa (Attorney-General and Justice Minister): Removed from the Justice Ministry by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 and initially redeployed to Special Duties.
Barth Nnaji (Power Minister): Left office in August 2012 amid concerns regarding a potential conflict of interest in the privatisation of electricity assets.
Inuwa Abdulkadir (Youth Development Minister): Appointment formally terminated by President Jonathan in August 2013 over issues relating to National Youth Council of Nigeria elections.
Nine Ministers Sacked in September 2013: Jonathan relieved nine ministers of their duties on September 11, 2013—namely Olugbenga Ashiru (Foreign Affairs), Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i (Education), Shamsudeen Usman (National Planning), Amal Pepple (Lands, Housing and Urban Development), Hadiza Mailafia (Environment), Ita Okon Bassey Ewa (Science and Technology), Olusola Obada (State for Defence), Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi (State for Power), and Bukar Tijani (State for Agriculture)—though the changes were framed as routine efforts to bring in fresh ideas rather than punishments.
Stella Oduah (Aviation Minister): Removed in February 2014 following heavy criticism and investigations surrounding the purchase of two armoured BMW vehicles by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
Godsday Orubebe (Niger Delta Minister), Caleb Olubolade (Police Affairs Minister), & Yerima Ngama (State for Finance): Departed the cabinet alongside Oduah in February 2014, with exits linked partly to pursuing political and private interests.

The Buhari Administration (2015–2023)

Mohammed Sabo Nanono (Agriculture Minister) & Sale Mamman (Power Minister): Both removed during a September 2021 cabinet reshuffle intended to reinvigorate the administration and address weaknesses found in government programs.

The Tinubu Administration (2023–Present)

Betta Edu (Humanitarian Affairs Minister): Suspended by President Bola Tinubu in January 2024 pending an EFCC investigation into ministry finances, and permanently replaced during the October 2024 cabinet restructuring.
October 2024 Dismissals: Tinubu dismissed five ministers on October 23, 2024, which included Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye (Women Affairs), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Tahir Mamman (Education), Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo (State for Housing), and Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth Development).

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The Ultimate Price: Presidents, Governors, And Top Officials Who Tragically D!ed While In Office.

Published

5 hours ago

September 9, 2026

NivoNews

Nigeria’s political trajectory features multiple historical instances where presidents, governors, ministers, and legislators passed away prior to finishing their terms, with causes ranging from prolonged illnesses and accidents to political and military violence. Within the Fourth Republic, the most prominent presidential example is Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, whose 2010 death led to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan stepping into the presidency. Similarly, state-level transitions occurred when governors like Mamman Bello Ali, Patrick Yakowa, and Rotimi Akeredolu died, causing their respective deputies to assume office. Legislative vacancies caused by members dying in office have also consistently forced the Independent National Electoral Commission to organize by-elections. This compiled overview outlines notable Nigerian civilian politicians who passed away while actively holding public office up to September 2026.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

1. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa

Role: Prime Minister
Details: As Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister, he led the government starting from independence in 1960 and through the republic transition in 1963, until his tenure ended abruptly when he was killed during the nation’s first military coup on January 15, 1966.

2. Ahmadu Bello

Role: Premier of Northern Region
Details: A dominant First Republic political figure and Northern People’s Congress leader, the Sardauna of Sokoto was assassinated at his official Kaduna residence during the January 15, 1966 coup.

3. Samuel Ladoke Akintola

Role: Premier of Western Region
Details: Amid intense regional political crises during the final years of the First Republic, Akintola was assassinated in Ibadan on January 15, 1966, during the military coup.

4. Shehu Kangiwa

Role: Governor of Sokoto State
Details: Elected under the National Party of Nigeria during the Second Republic in October 1979, his administration was cut short on November 17, 1981, when he suffered fatal injuries from a polo tournament horse fall in Kaduna, after which his deputy, Garba Nadama, succeeded him.

5. Bola Ige

Role: Attorney-General and Minister of Justice
Details: Having previously served as Minister of Power and Steel, he was serving as the nation’s chief law officer when he was assassinated at his Bodija, Ibadan home on December 23, 2001—a crime whose perpetrators have not been conclusively brought to justice.

6. Mamman Bello Ali

Role: Governor of Yobe State
Details: The former Yobe South senator elected in 2007 on the ANPP platform died on January 26, 2009, from reported leukaemia while receiving medical care in the US, leading to his deputy, Ibrahim Gaidam, taking over.

7. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua

Role: President of Nigeria
Details: The sole Fourth Republic president to pass away in office, his tenure from May 2007 was heavily impacted by health issues, leading the National Assembly to empower Goodluck Jonathan as acting president before Yar’Adua’s death on May 5, 2010, at age 58.

8. Gyang Dantong

Role: Senator, Plateau North
Details: First elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011, he died on July 8, 2012, during an attack at a mass burial ceremony in Plateau State that also claimed the life of state lawmaker Gyang Fulani.

9. Patrick Yakowa

Role: Governor of Kaduna State
Details: Having succeeded Namadi Sambo in 2010 and subsequently winning election in his own right, his tenure ended tragically on December 15, 2012, in a Bayelsa State Navy helicopter crash alongside former NSA Andrew Owoye Azazi and others, paving the way for deputy Mukhtar Ramalan Yero to take office.

10. Pius Ewherido

Role: Senator, Delta Central
Details: Elected in 2011 on the Democratic People’s Party platform and serving as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, he died following a brief illness at the National Hospital in Abuja on June 30, 2013.

11. Dahiru Awaisu Kuta

Role: Senator, Niger East
Details: A long-serving senator since 2007 who chaired the Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, he died in June 2014 during medical treatment, marking the third senatorial loss for the Seventh Senate.

12. Isiaka Adeleke

Role: Senator, Osun West
Details: The historic first civilian governor of Osun State was serving his second stint in the Senate when he died on April 23, 2017, triggering a by-election victory for his younger brother, Ademola Adeleke.

13. Mustapha Bukar

Role: Senator, Katsina North
Details: The APC politician and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market passed away while still in office on April 4, 2018.

14. Umar Buba Jibril

Role: House of Representatives Deputy Leader
Details: Representing Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency and serving as Deputy Majority Leader, he passed away in Abuja on March 30, 2018, at age 58 after a prolonged illness.

15. Benjamin Uwajumogu

Role: Senator, Imo North
Details: A former Imo State House of Assembly Speaker, his death on December 18, 2019, marked the initial loss recorded within the Ninth Senate in a brief span.

16. Ignatius Longjan

Role: Senator, Plateau South
Details: The former Plateau Deputy Governor who entered the Senate in 2019 passed away on February 10, 2020, at age 75 following a prolonged illness.

17. Rose Oko

Role: Senator, Cross River North
Details: Serving her second term and chairing the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, she passed away on March 23, 2020, at a UK medical facility.

18. Bayo Osinowo

Role: Senator, Lagos East
Details: Popularly called Pepperito and former Lagos State House of Assembly member, the Senate Committee on Industries chairman died on June 15, 2020.

19. Haruna Maitala

Role: House of Representatives
Details: Representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, he tragically died in an Abuja-to-Jos road accident on April 2, 2021, alongside his son, driver, and security aide.

20. Ossy Prestige

Role: House of Representatives
Details: The APGA politician serving his second term for Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency died in February 2021 after receiving medical treatment abroad.

21. Jude Ise-Idehen

Role: House of Representatives
Details: The 52-year-old PDP lawmaker representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency passed away on July 1, 2022, shortly after securing his party’s ticket for the 2023 elections.

22. Rotimi Akeredolu

Role: Governor of Ondo State
Details: The former Nigerian Bar Association President elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020 passed away on December 27, 2023, following extended health challenges, making him the fourth civilian governor to die in office and leading to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, being sworn in.

23. Isa Dogonyaro

Role: House of Representatives
Details: The 46-year-old APC lawmaker representing Babura/Garki Federal Constituency and Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control died in Abuja on May 10, 2024, after a brief illness.

24. Olaide Akinremi

Role: House of Representatives
Details: Popularly known as Jagaban and serving his second term for Ibadan North Federal Constituency, the Science Research Institutes committee chair died on July 10, 2024.

25. Ekene Abubakar Adams

Role: House of Representatives
Details: A first-term Labour Party lawmaker representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency and House Sports Committee chair passed away on July 16, 2024.

26. Ifeanyi Ubah

Role: Senator, Anambra South
Details: The prominent businessman, politician, and two-term senator passed away in London in July 2024 while actively holding his seat.

27. Adewunmi Onanuga

Role: Deputy Chief Whip, House of Representatives
Details: Representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, she passed away on January 15, 2025, after a brief illness at the age of 59.

28. Barinada Mpigi

Role: Senator, Rivers South-East
Details: Chairing the Senate Committee on Works and having spent over a decade in the National Assembly, he passed away on February 19, 2026, at the age of 64.

29. Muhammad Danjuma Hassan

Role: House of Representatives
Details: The first-term lawmaker and Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary representing Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency died on April 10, 2026, at age 66.

30. Yaya Bauchi Tongo

Role: House of Representatives
Details: Serving the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency and heading the Nigeria–United Arab Emirates Parliamentary Friendship Group, he passed away in an Abuja hospital following a brief illness on June 12, 2026.

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Red Line Crossed: Kenneth Okonkwo Warns FG Over Alleged Dangers Facing Peter Obi.

Published

5 hours ago

September 9, 2026

NivoNews

Kenneth Okonkwo, serving as the campaign spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar—the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—has asserted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration must bear full accountability should any harm befall Peter Obi, the flagbearer of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), or any key opposition figure.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Elaborating on the necessity of safeguarding democratic rights despite ideological or policy disagreements, Okonkwo stressed that all citizens must unite in protecting fundamental human rights and rejecting political thuggery. He underscored this position by stating:

“The violent obstruction of the movement of @PeterObi in Benue State is an affront to his freedom of movement and should be deprecated by all Nigerians. There should be no place for intimidation and political violence in our democracy. We may disagree in our policies and programmes but we must be united that no Nigerian should be denied his fundamental human rights. The government of @officialABAT should be held responsible if anything happens to @PeterObi or any other opposition parties leaders or prominent members.”