Nigeria rejects Binance CEO's bribery claim as 'diversionary tactic'

FILE PHOTO: Richard Teng, head of the Middle East and North Africa for crypto firm Binance gestures as he speaks during an interview with Reuters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 30, 2022. Picture taken March 30, 2022. REUTERS/Abdel Hadi Ramahi/File Photo

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian authorities on Wednesday denied allegations from Binance's CEO of soliciting bribes, saying the claim was a "diversionary tactic" and an "act of blackmail" aimed at undermining ongoing criminal charges against the company.

Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, and two of its executives face separate trials on charges of tax evasion and laundering more than $35 million, which the company is challenging.