A Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who was under investigation by Nigerian authorities, has reportedly escaped custody, according to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The ONSA confirmed on Monday that Anjarwalla fled on Friday, prompting immediate efforts to locate and apprehend him.
It was revealed that Anjarwalla left Nigeria using a smuggled passport, leading to ongoing collaboration with international agencies, including Interpol, to secure an international arrest warrant.
Zakari Mijinyawa, Head of Strategic Communication at ONSA, disclosed that personnel responsible for Anjarwalla’s custody have been detained, and an investigation is underway to understand the circumstances of his escape.
Anjarwalla, a British and Kenyan national serving as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was undergoing legal proceedings in Nigeria related to money laundering and terrorism financing on the Binance platform.
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He had been under a 14-day remand order and was due to appear in court on April 4, 2024.
The ONSA has urged both Nigerians and the international community to provide any information that could aid in Anjarwalla’s arrest.
In related developments, the Financial Times reported on February 28 that two Binance executives were arrested upon entering Nigeria following a ban on their website.
On March 12, 2024, the EFCC requested Binance to share data on its top 100 users in Nigeria and six months of transaction history, which forms part of ongoing negotiations between the company and Nigerian authorities.
