The Federal Government is currently investigating the security officers from whose custody Binance Executive Director Nadeem Anjarwalla escaped.
The Head of Strategic Communication in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, made this known in a statement, adding that a preliminary investigation revealed that Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service has filed criminal charges against Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange platform accused of aiding money laundering and terrorist financing.
The Federal Government on Monday said security agencies are working with the International Criminal Police Organisation for a global arrest warrant for Anjarwalla.
The Africa Regional Manager of Binance was arrested on February 26 on arrival in Nigeria, along with his colleague Tigran Gambaryan.
He escaped from lawful custody on Friday.
Mijinyawa, in the statement said, “The ONSA confirms that Nadeem Anjarwalla, a suspect in the ongoing criminal probe into the activities of Binance in Nigeria escaped from lawful custody on Friday, 22 March 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.
“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 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. He was scheduled to appear before the court again on April 4, 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.”
