NSA Launches Global Manhunt as Binance Official Flees Custody

The Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, has called on the public and the international community to provide information that can assist law enforcement agencies in apprehending the Executive Manager of Binance for the African region, Mr Nadeem Anjarwalla, who escaped from detention.

Head of Strategic Communication, ONSA, Mr Zakari Mijinyawa, who made the call yesterday, said a manhunt had been launched for Anjarwalla’s re-arrest.

He said: “The Federal Government, 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, and was scheduled to appear before the court again on April 4, 2024.

“The Office of the National Security Adviser confirms that Nadeem Anjarwalla, a suspect in the ongoing criminal probe into the activities of Binance in Nigeria escaped from lawful custody on Friday, March 22, 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 Nadeem Anjarwalla
“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.”

Reports said 38-year-old Anjarwalla, who was detained by Nigerian authorities on allegations of tax evasion and other charges, fled on Friday, from a guest house in Abuja where he and a colleague were being held when security personnel on duty allowed him to visit a nearby mosque for prayers in the spirit of the on-going Ramadan fast.

Anjarwalla, and Tigran Gambaryan, another Binance executive, were arrested and detained on their arrival in Nigeria on February 26, 2024, resulting in a series of legal actions against them and the cryptocurrency exchange.

The Briton, who also has Kenyan citizenship, is believed to have flown out of Abuja using a Middle East airliner.

How the Binance executive whose British passport with which he entered Nigeria is still in the custody of Nigerian authorities escaped using an international flight, is still being investigated.

Security agencies are said to be working to unravel his intended destination to apprehend him.

An Immigration official reportedly said Anjarwalla fled Nigeria on a Kenyan passport, adding that security agencies were trying to determine how he obtained the passport, given that he had no other travel document on him apart from the British passport when he was arrested.

A source said the two Binance officials were detained at a “comfortable guest house” and allowed many privileges, including use of telephones, a loophole he exploited to plot an escape.