Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has confirmed that the detained Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, escaped from custody.
ONSA said Anjarwalla, a suspect in the investigation into the activities of Binance, escaped last Friday.
While confirming the development in a statement, the Head of Strategic Communication, ONSA, Zakari Mijinyawa, said a preliminary investigation revealed Anjarwalla fled Nigeria with a smuggled passport.
He stated that efforts were ongoing to arrest the suspect.
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 said those responsible for the custody of Anjarwalla had been apprehended.
He stated that the investigation was ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding his escape.
The statement added: “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.”
He called on Nigerians and the international community to help with information which could lead to the arrest of the suspect.
