British-Kenyan crypto boss flees Nigeria while in lawful custody
Nadeem Anjarwalla a British- Kenyan who is Binance’s regional manager for Africa has escaped lawful custody in Nigeria.
Binance is a popular cryptocurrency firm which operates in Africa and Mr Anjarwalla had been nabbed for tax evasion charges.
Nigerian news website Premium Times reported on Monday, March 25, 2024, that the 28-year-old managed to escape from a guest house where he was being detained with others.
He had sought permission to attend Ramadhan Prayers in a mosque located near the guest house where he was being held which was allowed.
“It remains unclear how Mr Anjarwalla got on an international flight despite his British passport, with which he entered Nigeria, remaining in the custody of the Nigerian authorities,” reported the publication.
Authorities in Nigeria say that he used a Kenyan passport to flee the country raising concerns on how he obtained the travel document.
In the guest house where they were being held, the team enjoyed a number of privileges which included the use of mobile phones.
Mr Zakari Mijinyawa who is the Head of Strategic Communication at the Office of the National Security Adviser told Nigerian media that he would make a follow-up on the matter but he has yet to give an official comment.
Mr Anjarwalla, was arrested alongside Tigran Gambaryan a US national who is in charge of overseeing financial crime compliance at the cryptocurrency company on February 26, 2024 nabbed once they arrived in Nigeria.
Authorities in Nigeria then went ahead and filed a criminal charge against the two executives before a Magistrate Court in Abuja.
On February 28, 2024, the court granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) an order to remand the duo for 14 days.
The court also ordered Binance to provide the Nigerian government with the data/information of Nigerians trading on its platform.