The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has officially confirmed the escape of Nadeem Anjarwalla, a detained executive of Binance, from custody.
According to the ONSA, Mr. Anjarwalla, who was a suspect in the investigation into Binance’s activities, managed to evade capture on Friday.
In a statement released by Zakari Mijinyawa, Head of Strategic Communication at ONSA, it was revealed that preliminary investigations indicated that Mr. Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport. The ONSA, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, government departments, and international partners, is actively pursuing efforts to apprehend the suspect. Interpol has been engaged to secure an international arrest warrant.
Furthermore, those responsible for the custody of Mr. Anjarwalla have been apprehended, and a thorough investigation is underway to uncover the circumstances surrounding his escape. The Nigerian government, like other nations, has been diligently investigating instances of money laundering and terrorism financing linked to the Binance currency exchange platform.
Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British and Kenyan national serving as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was under a 14-day remand order by a Nigerian court prior to his escape. He was due to appear before the court again on April 4, 2024. The ONSA has called upon the Nigerian public and the international community to provide any information that may aid law enforcement agencies in locating and apprehending the suspect.
It is worth noting that earlier this year, two Binance executives were arrested upon entering the country in response to a ban on their website. Additionally, on March 12, 2024, the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) requested Binance to share data on its top 100 users in Nigeria and provide transaction history from the past six months. This request is currently a focal point of negotiations between Binance and Nigerian authorities.
