Nadeem Anjarwalla, one of the Binance executives detained in Nigeria on charges of tax evasion and other offenses, has reportedly managed to escape from police custody. According to sources, the 38-year-old British and Kenyan citizen fled on Friday, March 22, from the guest house in Abuja, where he and his colleague were being held.
It is believed that Anjarwalla took advantage of guards on duty who allowed him to visit a nearby mosque for prayers as part of the ongoing Ramadan fast. From there, he allegedly flew out of Abuja using a Middle Eastern airliner. The details of how he was able to board an international flight despite his British passport being in the custody of Nigerian authorities remain unclear.
Authorities are now working tirelessly to uncover Anjarwalla’s intended destination and bring him back into custody. One immigration official revealed that the Binance executive fled on a Kenyan passport, raising questions about how he obtained it since he did not have any other travel document apart from his British passport when he was initially detained.
Sources suggest that the two detained officials were held in a comfortable guest house and were granted several privileges, including the use of telephones. It is believed that Anjarwalla exploited this privilege to plan his escape.
When contacted for comment, the Head of Strategic Communication at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, stated that he would inquire and provide further information. However, as of the time of filing this report, no response has been received.
Anjarwalla, who serves as Binance’s Africa regional manager, along with Tigran Gambaryan, a US citizen overseeing financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform, were detained upon their arrival in Nigeria on February 26, 2024. They faced criminal charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Magistrate Court in Abuja.
After the court granted the EFCC a 14-day remand order, Binance was also instructed to provide the Nigerian government with data and information on Nigerian traders using their platform. Following Binance’s refusal to comply, the court extended the remand period for the officials to prevent tampering with evidence. The case is scheduled to continue on April 4, 2024.
In a separate development on the same day, the Nigerian government brought additional charges against Binance Holdings Limited, Anjarwalla, and Gambaryan. The charges include failure to register with the Federal Inland Revenue Service and pay relevant taxes under the Value Added Tax Act. The defendants are also accused of not issuing invoices to subscribers and neglecting to deduct necessary taxes from their operations.
The Nigerian government has intensified its crackdown on suspected money launderers and terrorism financiers, with Binance being targeted due to allegations of criminal activities taking place on its platform. The government claims that over $21.6 billion was traded by concealed identities using Binance and that the platform has been used for money laundering, terrorist financing, currency speculation, and market manipulation, negatively impacting the Nigerian economy and weakening the naira.
