One of the executives from Binance detained in Nigeria on allegations of tax evasion and other criminal offenses, Nadeem Anjarwalla, has reportedly escaped from custody.
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) confirmed this, in a statement made by Mr. Zakari Mijinyawa, Head, Strategic Communication, ONSA, on Monday, in Abuja.
He said that Anjarwalla escaped on Friday.
Mijinyawa, however, said necessary steps have been taken in conjunction with other relevant security organisations, as well as the international community, to apprehend the suspect, adding that the security agencies are also working with Interpol for an international arrest warrant on the suspect.
According to him, preliminary investigation shows that Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport.
The ONSA spokesman said that the personnel responsible for the custody of the suspect had been arrested as investigation continues to unravel the circumstances behind his escape.
“The Nigerian government, like others round the world, has been investigating money laundering and terrorism financing transactions perpetrated on the Binance currency exchange platform”, Mijinyawa added.
Anjarwalla was scheduled to appear before the court again on April 4, 2024.
The Binance Boss who is the company’s Africa Regional Manager was under a 14-day remand order by a court in Nigeria, before his escape.
