The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has confirmed the escape of detained Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, from custody. Anjarwalla, a suspect in the ongoing probe into the activities of Binance in Nigeria, reportedly fled on Friday, according to ONSA’s statement issued on Monday.
Zakari Mijinyawa, Head of Strategic Communication at ONSA, stated that initial investigations revealed Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport. Efforts are underway, in collaboration with relevant security agencies and international partners, including Interpol, to locate and apprehend him.
Mijinyawa disclosed that personnel responsible for Anjarwalla’s custody have been detained, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding his escape. Anjarwalla, a British and Kenyan national serving as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was under a 14-day remand order by a Nigerian court. He was due to appear before the court again on April 4, 2024.
The Nigerian government, like other nations, has been investigating money laundering and terrorism financing activities on the Binance platform. ONSA urged the public and international community to provide any information that could aid law enforcement agencies in locating Anjarwalla.
This development follows reports from the Financial Times that two Binance executives were arrested and detained upon entering Nigeria due to a ban on their website. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly requested data from Binance on its top 100 users in Nigeria and transaction history for the past six months, which is subject to negotiation between Binance and Nigerian authorities.
