The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has issued a plea to the public and the international community for any information that could lead to the re-arrest of Mr. Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Executive Manager of Binance for the African region, who recently escaped from detention. Mr. Zakari Mijinyawa, the Head of Strategic Communication at ONSA, made this call yesterday, announcing a manhunt for Anjarwalla's capture.
Anjarwalla, a British and Kenyan national serving as Binance's Africa regional manager, was under investigation for money laundering and terrorism financing on the Binance currency exchange platform. He had been undergoing trial in Nigerian courts but fled while under a 14-day remand order, scheduled to appear before the court again on April 4, 2024.
The escape of Nadeem Anjarwalla, a suspect in the ongoing criminal probe into Binance's activities in Nigeria, occurred on Friday, March 22, 2024. The ONSA, in collaboration with relevant security agencies and the international community, immediately launched efforts to apprehend the suspect. Security agencies are also working with Interpol to secure an international arrest warrant for Anjarwalla.
Anjarwalla's escape, facilitated by a smuggled passport, occurred when security personnel allowed him to visit a nearby mosque for prayers during the ongoing Ramadan fast. Anjarwalla and a colleague, Tigran Gambaryan, were initially detained on arrival in Nigeria on February 26, 2024, on charges including tax evasion. Anjarwalla is believed to have fled Nigeria using a Middle East airliner, despite his British passport remaining in Nigerian custody. Security agencies are investigating his escape route and intended destination.
