Detained Binance Exec Flees from Custody in Nigeria: Report

Nadeem Anjarwalla, a prominent figure at Binance, has reportedly escaped custody in Nigeria.
He is believed to have left Abuja via a Middle East airline.
Binance also acknowledged that Anjarwalla was no longer in Nigerian custody.

Nadeem Anjarwalla, a prominent figure at Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has reportedly escaped custody in Nigeria. Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan citizenship, was detained in Nigeria with another Binance executive over allegations of tax evasion and other offenses.

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Details of the Escape

Exclusive sources told PREMIUM TIMES that Anjarwalla fled from an Abuja guest house on Friday, March 22, 2024. The escape allegedly occurred during the ongoing Ramadan fast, when guards allowed him to attend prayers at a nearby mosque. Subsequently, he is believed to have left Abuja via a Middle East airline.

The circumstances of Anjarwalla’s escape have raised questions about how he could board an international flight without his British passport, which reportedly remained in Nigerian custody upon his detention.

In response to Anjarwalla’s escape, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed to Bloomberg that one of the detained executives had indeed fled. Binance, too, acknowledged that Anjarwalla was no longer in Nigerian custody, prompting efforts to secure an international arrest warrant through Interpol.

Anjarwalla’s role as Binance’s regional manager for Africa adds complexity to the situation, highlighting the growing regulatory challenges faced by major cryptocurrency exchanges operating in various jurisdictions.

Binance in Nigeria Continue to Face Scrutiny

The saga surrounding Binance in Nigeria has been escalating, with the exchange facing charges of tax evasion. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in Nigeria filed charges against Binance at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing the platform of various tax-related offenses, including non-payment of Value-Added Tax (VAT) and Company Income Tax. Additionally, Binance is accused of failing to file tax returns and aiding customers in evading taxes through its platform.

The Nigerian government’s actions against Binance come after weeks of scrutiny and criticism, during which the exchange was accused of processing large sums of suspected criminal funds and manipulating the exchange rate of the local currency, the naira.

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