The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has apprehended the personnel responsible for Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance regional manager for Africa, who was under their custody.
According to Zakari Mijinyawa, ONSA’s Head of Strategic Communication, he stated that preliminary investigation shows that Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport.
He stated that the personnel responsible for the suspect’s custody will undergo intense scrutiny, with further investigations underway to ascertain the details surrounding his escape.
The Street Journal reported that Anjarwalla absconded while being escorted to a nearby mosque for prayers during the ongoing Ramadan fast.
This incident follows the detention of two Binance executives by Nuhu Ribadu last month, during which their passports were confiscated.
The detention was initiated by the Nigerian government in response to allegations of forex trading manipulation undermining the naira.
Binance is facing charges including non-payment of Value-Added Tax (VAT), failure to submit tax returns, and complicity in facilitating tax evasion for customers.
The detained executives were later identified as Tigran Gambaryan, a US citizen, and Nadeem Anjarwalla (At large), who holds British-Kenyan nationality.
Binance has also asserted its cooperation with Nigerian authorities to ensure the safety of its staff and resolve outstanding issues with the government.
Regarding Anjarwalla’s whereabouts, a Binance spokesperson stating that their primary focus on employee safety.
The spokesperson said, “We were made aware that Nadeem is no longer in Nigerian custody. Our primary focus remains on the safety of our employees, and we are working collaboratively with Nigerian authorities to quickly resolve this issue.”
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