Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Africa regional manager for Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange, has reportedly fled from custody in Nigeria.
Anjarwalla, a 37-year-old British-Kenyan, along with another senior executive, was detained by the Federal Government in February amid efforts to regulate cryptocurrency trading and curb speculation on the Nigerian naira.
The charges against Binance include alleged non-payment of taxes, failure to file tax returns, and assisting customers in evading taxes through its platform.
Anjarwalla’s reported escape occurred on March 22 from an Abuja guest house where they were being held. It’s reported that guards, while observing the ongoing Ramadan fast, escorted him to a nearby mosque for prayers, allowing him an opportunity to flee.
According to a report by Premium Times, Anjarwalla is believed to have left Abuja on a Middle Eastern airline, despite possessing a British passport. However, it’s unclear how he managed to board an international flight without detection. Efforts are underway to ascertain his destination and apprehend him.
Additionally, it’s been reported that Anjarwalla possessed a Kenyan passport, raising questions about how he obtained it while in custody. Being allowed certain privileges, including access to phones, Anjarwalla is believed to have exploited these rights to plan his escape.
When contacted for comment, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) stated that they would investigate the matter, but as of now, there has been no further response.