British Binance Executive Escapes Custody in Nigeria
In a startling turn of events, Nadeem Anjarwalla, one of the Binance executives detained in Nigeria on allegations of tax evasion and other offenses, has managed to escape from lawful custody.
Reports from Premium Times reveal that Anjarwalla, aged 38 and holding both British and Kenyan citizenship, made his escape on Friday, March 22, from the Abuja guest house where he and his colleague were being held. It's reported that guards on duty allowed him to attend prayers at a nearby mosque in observance of the Ramadan fast, during which he absconded.
Efforts to reach Zakari Mijinyawa, Head of Strategic Communication at the Office of the National Security Adviser, for comment on the escape remain unanswered.
The circumstances surrounding Anjarwalla's ability to board an international flight despite the seizure of his British passport, which was in possession of Nigerian authorities, remain unclear. It's been disclosed that he used his Kenyan passport to flee the country, though investigations are ongoing to determine how he acquired it, as he had no other travel documents besides his British passport when taken into custody.
The detained executives were reportedly housed in a "comfortable guest house" and afforded certain privileges, including access to telephones, which may have facilitated Anjarwalla's escape.
Anjarwalla, serving as Binance's Africa regional manager, along with Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen overseeing financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform, were detained upon their arrival in Nigeria on February 26, 2024.
A criminal charge was filed against the duo before a Magistrate Court in Abuja, leading to a 14-day remand order granted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Subsequently, the court extended their remand for another 14 days after Binance refused to comply with an order to provide Nigerian trading data.
On March 22, the Nigerian Government brought additional charges against Binance Holdings Limited, Anjarwalla, and Gambaryan, accusing them of tax-related offenses under the Value Added Tax Act of 1993.
This development comes after Binance pled guilty and agreed to a $4.3 billion settlement for money laundering charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao's trial has been postponed to April 30.
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