Nigeria’s National Security Adviser has confirmed the escape of a top executive of the cryptocurrency trading platform Binance from lawful custody.
Nadeem Anjarwalla fled on Friday from the Abuja guest house, where he and another Binance executive were detained after he was led to a mosque for prayers, according to Premium Times.
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said a preliminary investigation showed Anjarwalla escaped with a smuggled passport.
It also said the officials responsible for his custody have been arrested and are being interrogated.
Premium Times exclusively reported that 38-year-old Anjarwalla, who has British and Kenyan citizenship, is believed to have flown out of Abuja using a Middle East airliner.
The medium also reported an immigration official saying the Binance executive fled Nigeria on a Kenyan passport, which he did not have on him when he was taken into custody in February.
Nigerian authorities are currently working to unravel his destination.
Anjarwalla's Detention
Anjarwalla and his colleague, Tigran Gambaryan, were arrested on 26 February 2024 when they arrived in Nigeria for negotiations with Nigerian authorities over accusations Binance was instrumental to the falling value of the naira.
A criminal charge was filed against them before a Magistrate Court in Abuja.
On 28 February 2024, the court granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria's anti-graft agency, an order to remand the two for 14 days.
The court also ordered Binance to provide the Nigerian government with the data of Nigerians trading on its platform.
Just before Anjarwalla’s escape, the federal government filed a four-count tax evasion charge against Binance.
Anjarwalla is Binance’s Africa regional manager, while Tigran Gambaryan, a US citizen, handled financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform.
