• Says, security personnel responsible for custody of escaped suspect
From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said Nadeem Anjarwalla, one the Chief Executives of Binance, who was detained in Nigeria for alleged tax evasion, escaped from detention and fled from Nigeria using a smuggled passport.
Head, Strategic Communication, Zakari Mijinyawa, who made the disclosure, said investigation has commenced into Anjarwalla’s sudden disappearance.
Mijinyawa said the personnel responsible for the custody of the suspect to unravel the mystery surrounding his escape has been arrested. He further disclosed that ONSA was working with the various security agencies and the international community, including the Interpol, for an international arrest warrant to apprehend the suspect.
The statement made available to Daily Sun reads: “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. 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.
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 serving 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 April 4, 2024. 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”.