The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on Monday, confirmed that Nadeem Anjarwalla, a suspect in the ongoing criminal probe into the activities of Binance in Nigeria, has escaped from lawful custody.
The Head of Strategic Communication at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, said Mr Anjarwalla escaped on Friday, 22 March.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Anjarwalla escaped from lawful custody, according to those familiar with the matter.
Our sources said 38-year-old Mr Anjarwalla escaped on Friday (23 March) from the Abuja guest house where he and his colleague were detained after guards on duty led him to a nearby mosque for prayers in the spirit of the ongoing Ramadan fast.
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In a statement Monday afternoon, Mr Mijinyawa confirmed report.
He explained that upon receiving a report of Mr Anjarwalla’s escape, the NSA’s 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, he said.
“Preliminary investigation shows that Mr Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport,” the statement said.
“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.
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“Recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria, 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, Mr Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan nationalities and serves as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was being tried in Nigerian courts. 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.
“We urge the Nigerian public and the international community to provide whatever information they have that can assist law enforcement agencies to apprehend the suspect,” Mr Mijinyawa said.
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