Nadeem Anjarwalla, a Binance executive detained in Nigeria over allegations of tax evasion, reportedly escaped custody. Anjarwalla, 38, allegedly fled during Ramadan prayers, escorted by guards, from the Abuja guest house where he and a colleague were held.
Despite Nigerian authorities retaining his British passport, Anjarwalla is believed to have left the country using a Kenyan passport, as reported by Premium Times. Efforts are underway to determine his destination and apprehend him.
Anjarwalla and colleague Tigran Gambaryan were detained upon their arrival in Nigeria on February 26, 2024. They faced criminal charges, including tax-related offenses, and were remanded by a local court. Additionally, the Nigerian government charged Binance Holdings Limited and the executives with operating without proper registration and tax compliance.
This development occurs amid Nigeria's heightened efforts to combat financial crimes like money laundering and terrorism financing.
Nigeria alleges over $21.6 billion in Binance transactions involved individuals with hidden identities, potentially involving illicit activities such as money laundering and market manipulation, impacting the economy and the Naira's value.
The detention of Binance executives follows the platform's settlement of money laundering charges in the US. Binance's founder, Changpeng Zhao, pled guilty and agreed to step down. Zhao's trial, linked to US Department of Justice charges, has been postponed to April 30.
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