Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla escapes custody in Nigeria

Nadeem Anjarwalla, one of the Binance executives detained in Nigeria for alleged tax evasion and other offenses, has reportedly escaped from lawful custody, sources familiar with the matter informed PREMIUM TIMES.

According to reports, Mr. Anjarwalla, 38, managed to escape on Friday, March 22, from the Abuja guest house where he and his colleague were being held. It is said that guards on duty escorted him to a nearby mosque for prayers, following the spirit of the ongoing Ramadan fast, and he took advantage of the situation to flee.

The British national, who also holds Kenyan citizenship, is believed to have departed from Abuja using a Middle East airline.

Despite entering Nigeria with his British passport, which remains in the custody of Nigerian authorities, it is unclear how Mr. Anjarwalla was able to board an international flight.

Authorities are now working to uncover his intended destination in efforts to bring him back into custody.

An Immigration official revealed that the Binance executive fled Nigeria using a Kenyan passport. However, they are trying to ascertain how he obtained the passport, as he had no other travel document apart from the British passport when initially taken into custody.

Sources mentioned that the detained officials were housed in a “comfortable guest house” and were granted certain privileges, including the use of telephones. It is believed that Mr. Anjarwalla utilized this access to plan his escape.

In response to inquiries about the escape, Zakari Mijinyawa, the Head of Strategic Communication at the Office of the National Security Adviser, stated he would investigate the matter and provide updates. However, as of the time of this report, no further information has been provided.