The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has issued a call to the Nigerian public and the international community for assistance in locating Mr. Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Executive Manager of Binance for the African region, who escaped from detention. Mr. Zakari Mijinyawa, Head of Strategic Communication at ONSA, disclosed this information on Monday, announcing that a manhunt has been initiated to apprehend Anjarwalla, who is considered a suspect.
Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan nationalities, served as Binance’s Africa regional manager and was undergoing trial in Nigerian courts for alleged criminal activities related to the Binance currency exchange platform. He escaped custody while under a 14-day remand order by a Nigerian court and was scheduled to appear in court again on April 4, 2024.
Zakari emphasized the seriousness of the situation, confirming Anjarwalla’s escape from lawful custody on March 22, 2024. Immediate measures have been taken by ONSA, in collaboration with relevant security agencies and international partners, to locate and apprehend the suspect. Efforts are underway to obtain an international arrest warrant through Interpol.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport, raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding his escape. Personnel responsible for his custody have been detained, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain the factors contributing to his escape.
Anjarwalla’s escape comes amidst legal actions against him and Binance following their detention by Nigerian authorities on February 26, 2024, on allegations of tax evasion and other charges. Reports indicate that Anjarwalla and another Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, were detained upon their arrival in Nigeria and were being held in a guest house in Abuja.