The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has disclosed that Nadeem Anjarwalla, a Binance official, escaped from custody and fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport.
ONSA spokesperson, Zakari U. Mijinyawa, confirmed this in a statement on Monday, stating that a preliminary investigation shows that Anjarwalla flew using a smuggled passport.
“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,” Mijinyawa said.
Mijinyawa also disclosed that the personnel responsible for the suspect’s custody have been arrested, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to his escape from lawful detention.
Nigeria has been investigating money laundering and terrorism financing transactions allegedy perpetrated on the Binance currency exchange platform.
Until his escape, Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan nationalities and serves as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was being tried by a Nigerian court.
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 4 April 2024.
Mijinyawa, however, urged the national and international community to provide information to assist law enforcement agencies in apprehending the suspect.
