By Maurice Tsav
Time and again, it has been said that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And so, the Hon. Philip Agbese, Member Representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency at the 10th House of Representatives that I know is not the same as the one portrayed by the Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, in negative light.
For the avoidance of doubt, Hon Philip Agbese is born into the royal Agila family of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State. Perhaps, this explain why the family has distinguished itself in ways more than one. They are reputable, respected, social justice crusaders, muckrakers, lovers of humanity and do not suffer fools gladly.
So it was strange that Tigran could come out with allegations of bribery against the lawmaker without providing any documentary evidence to back this claims. To think that Binance apologised, when the Chairman of the House Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes went to court on the subject is begging the question of what Tigran is out for.
It appears to me that Tigran has an axe to grind with the President Bola Tinubu administration. He took on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, accusing the former EFCC boss of seeking to personally benefit from Nigeria’s dispute with Binance.
The allegations by Binance against the NSA and Hon Agbese, who is not a member of House Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes, is suggestive of one thing: Binance and her agencies want to blackmail Nigeria into doing business in the country. This may also be pushing for a diplomatic row between his home country and Nigeria.
A lawyer by training and civil rights activists, Hon Agbese by training would rather fight against injustice and criminality in the society than engage in acts that are antithesis of his profession.
While I commend Hon Agbese for his readiness to sue Tigran to prove his innocence and protect his reputation and defend his integrity, I do hope that the federal lawmaker will remain focus on his primary assignment, entrusted into his hands by the good people of Enone, who went to the poll on 27th February, 2023, and elect him to be their voice.
It is a thing of joy to his numerous supporters that the Federal Government has come expressly to defend our lawmaker and those accused with him.
The future ahead of this young parliamentarian is brighter and we can not withstand any attempt to rubbish his hard-earned reputation.
The Philip Agbese I know is not a criminal.
Source; Posted by Maurice Tsav on his Facebook timeline on Wednesday, 19th February, 2025
