NSA Confirms Binance Executive’s Escape from Custody

The Office of the National Security Adviser has verified that Nadeem Anjarwalla, a detained executive from Binance, has absconded from custody.

The ONSA announced on Monday that Anjarwalla, a key figure in the investigation into Binance’s activities, evaded capture on Friday.

Earlier reports from PUNCH Online, citing Premium Times, had indicated Anjarwalla’s escape on Friday.

Zakari Mijinyawa, the Head of Strategic Communication at ONSA, confirmed the incident in a statement, revealing that initial inquiries revealed Anjarwalla departed Nigeria using an illicitly obtained passport.

Efforts are currently underway to apprehend the fugitive.

The statement read, “The Office of the National Security Adviser confirms that Nadeem ANJARWALLA, a suspect in the ongoing criminal probe into the activities of Binance in Nigeria has escaped from lawful custody on Friday, March 22, 2024.

“Upon receiving this report, this office took immediate steps, in conjunction with relevant security agencies, MDAs, as well as the international community, to apprehend the suspect. Security agencies are working with Interpol for an international arrest warrant on the suspect.

“Preliminary investigation shows that Mr Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport. ”

Mijinyawa observed that the individuals tasked with the custody of Anjarwalla had been apprehended.

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He mentioned that an ongoing investigation aimed to uncover the details surrounding his escape.

“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.

“Recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria, like other governments around the world, has been investigating money laundering and terrorism financing transactions perpetrated on the Binance currency exchange platform.

“Until his escape, Nadeem Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan nationalities and serving as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was being tried by Nigerian courts. The suspect escaped while under a 14-day remand order by a court in Nigeria. He was scheduled to appear before the court again on 4 April 2024” the statement added.

He called upon both Nigerians and the global community to provide any relevant information that could facilitate the apprehension of the suspect.

Mijinyawa said, “We urge the Nigerian public and the international community to provide whatever information they have that can assist law enforcement agencies to apprehend the suspect.”

On February 28, the Financial Times disclosed that two company executives had been apprehended and held in custody upon their arrival in the country due to a website ban.

On March 12, 2024, the Financial Times revealed that the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) had requested Binance to provide data on its top 100 users in Nigeria along with complete transaction records spanning the last six months.

The report highlighted that this request forms the focal point of ongoing negotiations between Binance and the Nigerian authorities.