The office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on Monday in Abuja confirmed that Nadeem Anjarwalla, the detained Executive of Cryptocurrency trading platform, Binance indeed has escaped from security custody in Nigeria.
The Head, Strategic Communication, ONSA, Mr. Zakari Mijinyawa, revealed that the Binance Executive used a smuggled international passport to make good his escape from Nigeria.
Anjarwalla who holds both British and Kenyan passports is the African Regional manager of Binance. He was arrested in Nigeria on February alongside other top executives of Binance and was later charged to court on terrorism financing allegations.
News had filtered in that the detainee had escaped despite being held in a highly secured federal facility.
In confirming the escape of the suspect, the ONSA noted that certain people who have already been arrested collaborated with the fugitive to escape from Nigeria.
The ONSA Statement reads:
“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. ”
“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”
“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.”