The Office of the National Security Adviser has verified the escape of the detained Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, from custody.
According to the ONSA on Monday, Anjarwalla, who was under investigation in connection with Binance’s activities, absconded on Friday.
Earlier reports from PUNCH Online, citing Premium Times, indicated that Anjarwalla had escaped custody on Friday.
Confirming the incident in a statement, Zakari Mijinyawa, the Head of Strategic Communication at ONSA, disclosed that initial investigations revealed Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using an illicitly obtained passport. Efforts are underway to apprehend him.
The statement read, “The Office of the National Security Adviser confirms that Nadeem ANJARWALLA, a suspect in the ongoing criminal probe into the activities of Binance in Nigeria has escaped from lawful custody on Friday, March 22, 2024.
“Upon receiving this report, this office took immediate steps, in conjunction with relevant security agencies, MDAs, as well as the international community, to apprehend the suspect. Security agencies are working with Interpol for an international arrest warrant on the suspect.
“Preliminary investigation shows that Mr Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport. ”
Mijinyawa noted that those responsible for the custody of Anjarwalla had been arrested.
He noted that the investigation was ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding his escape.
“The personnel responsible for the custody of the suspect have been arrested, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to his escape from lawful detention.
“Recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria, like other governments around the world, has been investigating money laundering and terrorism financing transactions perpetrated on the Binance currency exchange platform.
“Until his escape, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan nationalities and serves as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was being tried by Nigerian courts. The suspect escaped while under a 14-day remand order by a court in Nigeria. He was scheduled to appear before the court again on 4 April 2024” the statement added.
He urged Nigerians and the international community to help with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect.
Mijinyawa said, “We urge the Nigerian public and the international community to provide whatever information they have that can assist law enforcement agencies to apprehend the suspect.”
On February 28, the Financial Times disclosed that two company executives were arrested and detained upon their arrival in the country due to a website ban.
On March 12, 2024, FT reported that the EFCC requested Binance to provide data on its top 100 users in Nigeria and all transaction records for the preceding six months. This request is reportedly a focal point in the ongoing negotiations between Binance and Nigeria.
