By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The federal government has begun to spread its tentacles across the globe for the Executive Manager of Binance for the African region, Mr Nadeem Anjarwalla, who escaped from detention in Abuja last Friday.
Mr Anjarwalla was arrested alongside another top representative of the organisation, Mr Tigran Gambaryan, after they arrived in the country on February 26, 2024, at the invitation of the Nigerian government.
The government was looking into their alleged involvement in the manipulation of the Naira in the foreign exchange (FX) market through the cryptocurrency exchange platform.
They were kept in custody by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which asked a court in Abuja for an order to extend their detention.
The matter was fixed for hearing on April 4, but last Friday, Mr Anjarwalla, a 38-year-old British and Kenyan citizen, fled the country after he was reportedly accompanied to a nearby mosque.
In a statement on Monday, the Head of Strategic Communication at ONSA, Mr Zakari Mijinyawa, disclosed that the necessary authorities have been notified of the development and efforts would be made to get him back to Nigeria wherever he is.
“The Federal Government, 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 serves 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, and was scheduled to appear before the court again on April 4, 2024.
“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 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 Nadeem Anjarwalla.
“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,” the statement said.
Adedapo Adesanya