The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has officially verified the escape of Nadeem Anjarwalla, a detained executive of Binance, from custody.
Anjarwalla, who was under investigation regarding the activities of Binance, reportedly absconded on Friday, as initially reported by Premium Times.
In a statement issued by the Head of Strategic Communication at ONSA, Zakari Mijinyawa, it was revealed that preliminary investigations indicated Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport. Efforts are underway to locate and apprehend the fugitive.
Mijinyawa confirmed, “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.”
Anjarwalla, a British and Kenyan national serving as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was undergoing trial in Nigerian courts until his escape. He absconded while under a 14-day remand order by a Nigerian court, with his next court appearance scheduled for April 4, 2024.
The statement emphasized the ongoing investigation into money laundering and terrorism financing transactions involving the Binance platform, echoing global efforts by governments to address such issues.
The public and international community have been urged to provide any relevant information to aid law enforcement agencies in apprehending the suspect.
This development follows earlier reports of arrests and detentions of Binance executives in Nigeria, prompted by the company’s website ban. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had also requested data from Binance on its top 100 users in Nigeria and transaction history for the past six months, indicating ongoing negotiations between the company and Nigeria.
