May 15, (THEWILL)- The House of Representatives has assured of a comprehensive investigation into the activities of Binance, a cryptocurrency platform in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, Ginger Obinna Onwusibe (LP-Abia), gave the assurances during a press conference in Abuja, on Tuesday.
The Chairman, who said that no member of the committee of staff approached Bianace for a bribe, assured that the committee would not be distracted by the allegation.
“I want to assure all Nigerians of the integrity, transparency and competence of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, which I have the privilege and honour to chair. We refuse to be diminished or deflated by the shenanigans of Binance and other enemies of Nigeria.
“The committee will continue with its functions and assignments undeterred. We recognise that the blackmail by Binance is merely an attempt to distract and draw attention away from the serious allegations of criminality against it, which is now compounded by its role in the security breach of sovereign Nigeria.
“The committee will continue with its legitimate functions as indicated and will update the relevant authorities, the general public and the media as the need arises,” he said.
Onwusibe said that the committee was investigating Binance on alleged tax evasion having operated illegally in Nigeria and generating billions of dollars in profits with zero tax remittance.
He said Binance allegedly provided a platform for terrorism financing, enabling terrorists and enemies of Nigeria to receive ransoms without trace thus facilitating the purchase of sophisticated arms and weapons.
The Rep also said that the cryptocurrency platform allegedly manipulated the Nigerian Forex space, which led to a sharp spike in the price of foreign currencies against the Naira and operated outside the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Onwusibe said that the committee would also look into the circumstances surrounding the escape of a Binance executive from lawful custody and how he left the country.
He challenged the promoters of the bribery allegation to unveil the “unknown persons” who approached Binance employees and suggested that they make a payment in settlement of the allegations.
Meanwhile, Reps Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday, vowed that the 10th Assembly will ensure that those behind the $140 million bribery blackmail are brought to book.
Represented at the press briefing by the Chairman, House Committee on Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation of the Legislative Agenda, Patrick Umoh, the Speaker reiterated his stance to protect the integrity of the House.
He said: “We are here on the mandate of the honourable Speaker to monitor proceedings and protect the image of the 10th House of Representatives. That’s why we are here Mr. Chairman. And we are part and parcel of what you are doing because we are all very interested in the credibility of the 10th House of Representatives and we also have to ensure that Nigerians know the truth.
“This is the people’s House and as far as I’m concerned, as far as the 10th House of Representatives is concerned, anti-corruption is a core mandate of our committee when it comes to monitoring and evaluation of our agenda.
“It is with dismay that we have observed the trend where the 10th House of Representatives has been blackmailed by individuals, corporate organisations, some organisations who are themselves not known to the law, coming to blackmail the Committee on anti-corruption.
“So, the House notes with dismay, the House is worried, the House is uncomfortable that when negative news trends we should also be interested in what is the truth. We are here elected by the people of Nigeria to represent this country and to ensure that we make laws for the good governance of our country Nigeria and the best.
“The only compliment that we should enjoy from Nigerians is that encouragement. So, Nigerians, particularly members of the National Assembly, should be interested when we hear of these blackmails, this trending news, the negative news, unprintable things said about the 10th House of Representatives.
“Mr. Chairman, we can vouch for your integrity, which is why you are appointed to chair the anti-corruption of financial crimes Committee of the House. So, be rest assured that we will stand by you and we will defend you because we know you. You have worked with us and we have worked with you to protect the collective integrity of the 10th House of Representatives.
“So, Mr. Chairman, let us assure you as a committee that we are interested in this matter and we will ensure that you come out clean because we know you are clean, you are responsible.
“For all reliefs and decisions the Committee has taken, we would partner with this Committee to ensure that those involved, those concerned pay for it. They will be brought to justice because liability has to be attached to every action, particularly negative action that is projected at bringing down the integrity of the 10th House of Representatives.”
