Binance Executive Allegedly Evades Custody in Nigeria
The Kenyan passport of a Binance executive mysteriously appeared, allowing him to escape from detention in Nigeria. This executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, managed to flee from custody in a mosque near their guest house in Abuja on March 22, according to a report by local media outlet Premium Times. Anjarwalla, aged 38, took advantage of being taken to the mosque for his Ramadan prayers and reportedly ran away during the prayers. It is believed that he fled the Nigerian capital using an international Middle East airline. Anjarwalla and his colleague Tigran Gambaryan were detained by the Nigerian government upon their arrival in the country in February 2024. They, along with Binance, were charged with financial fraud and manipulating the Nigerian currency, leading to a depreciation in the naira and other currencies.
According to reports, the Nigerian government took all of Anjarwalla’s documents during his detention and found only his British passport. However, it was revealed that he managed to leave the country using a Kenyan passport. It is unclear how Anjarwalla obtained the passport while in custody, but sources suggest that the executives were given a “comfortable guest house” and allowed to make phone calls, which may have facilitated his escape plan. Nigerian authorities have stated that they are investigating the matter and will issue an official statement soon. They are also working to determine the flight destination in order to apprehend Anjarwalla.
The ongoing case has been prolonged due to Binance’s refusal to appear in Nigerian court or provide transaction details for Nigerian users. The exchange has also refused to pay fines imposed by the Nigerian government to restore its services or release its detained staff. As a result, Binance has delisted the Nigerian naira from its platform and closed all payment services related to the currency. The Nigerian government has blocked access to Binance sites and recently prohibited access to its application. Interestingly, the government’s actions may have been effective in restoring the naira, as the currency has significantly recovered against the dollar. Meanwhile, Binance recently faced regulatory scrutiny from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), resulting in a $4.3 billion settlement and the resignation of its CEO, Changpeng Zhao.
